You don't offer any advice about what sort of style you like, so that would be a good starting off point.

I tend to like bold contrast and bright colours, so I personally would do them in a bright geometric fabric, perhaps something with a bit of a deco vibe. Stripes are also great on chairs like this. However, my taste may not be for you. It's all about what you like, so give us a little heads up about what sort of style you tend to go for, colors, etc.

I think they're very salvageable - very nice, in fact! I think what is detracting from them now is the back cushion - if you can, I would get rid of them and just have throw pillows. I would not paint the wood - it looks like it's in good shape and I think that painted look is on its way out, and once it's done you can never go back. As far as fabric goes, you could do almost anything - it really depends on what your style is and what the rest of the room that they are going to go in is.

Those are amazing chairs with great, clean lines. You could do ANYTHING with them. Not sure what your style is, but you could paint them a high gloss bright color and cover them with a loud, modern print to counteract the "antique factor". Or keep the wood natural and use a more traditional solid in a fresh color like bright green.

The chairs have nice clean lines. I would just reupholster them in a fabric you and bf like. Go and browse the fabric stores and bring home swatches of upholstery weight fabric. I would leave the wood as is and live with it a while. With a more modern fabric it should look great.

That said, let the great paint vs. don't paint games begin! :)

Hmm...well i think it depends on what type of fabric you two (you and your boyfriend) would agree on but the chairs look wonderful and very 'save-able'. There have been great redo's lately with Scandanavian fabrics (on the cheap...IKEA has some great ones). I say you will get many points from his mom for keeping and re-loving them.

I say don't paint the wood and DO reupholster! They'll look really nice if you pick a good fabric. Adding to Emily the Cat's comment, I'd also get rid of the back cushion but replace it with a thick (about as thick as the cushion is now) piece of foam cut to the same size as the back of the chair (a couple inches shorter than the current back cushion). Then staple your upholstery over the foam for a more mod look.

Recovering chairs of this size is a big job, but not too difficult as long as you're willing to put in the time. It also won't be cheap (probably run you about $250 for the materials, you need a LOT more fabric than you'd think- probably about 8 yards or so for this chair, upholstery grade which is heavier and therefore more durable), foam is quite expensive if you're replacing the cushion foam, and if you don't have an automatic stapler you'd be doing yourself a HUGE favor to get one. But anyone can do it! Just pull tight. Good luck!

Yes, reupholster - For longevity, choose a solid fabric.
No, don't paint the frames.
Yes, have the upholsterer make the back cushion about 3/4-2/3 the height than they currently are to show off the top rail.

don't paint! do reupholster.
how about an oxblood leather?

These are BEAUTIFUL chairs! I'd buy them in a second if they were on craigslist - and then of course reupholster them.
I say definitely do not paint. If you do anything to the wood, maybe stain it a little darker? But, I love the wood. As for the fabric, I would go with a solid color (maybe in a nubby/woolish texture?) and keep it classic so you can use them for years. I also agree with the above comments to make the back pillow shorter but it shouldn't be that difficult. If you're having a professional re-upholster it, they'll have plenty of ideas on how to execute.
Good luck! I'd love to see an update when they're done!

The first thing that came to mind (and I see others have had the same thought already) is to shorten those back pillows! They're 98% of the grandma problem. If you're willing to reupholster, than any fabric will look beautiful on these chairs. They're darling!

I agree...these two are an open book. I wouldn't paint the wood either and look for a bold, modern fabric to recover them. I say yes, save them or at least sell them for someone else to get creative with them.

You guys are totally brilliant about shortening the cushions! I would have never thought of that but I'm squinting a bit and it makes all the difference. I don't have any particular style I'm going for and I certainly am not cool enough to have any unified look in my place,but when I see something like the Moderne fabrics by Mokum, my heart starts to pitter patter and I fantasize about robbing a bank to afford them: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/03/new-mokum-moderne-fabrics.html. Too expensive for me, but if anyone has similar suggestions, I'd be thrilled. Thanks so much (and the boyfriend breathes a sigh of relief - until, that is, he realizes he'll have to look at endless swatches of fabric that all seem 'nice.')

You might check out Design*Sponge for inspiration. Their before and after series has some wonderful modern chair makeovers.
http://www.designspongeonline.com/category/before-and-after

Sorry - here's the correct link for the Mokum fabrics: http://www.designspongeonline.com/2010/03/new-mokum-moderne-fabrics.html

I noticed that everybody recommends not painting/staining the wood. I am leaning towards staining the wood in a darker color - something like brown black or even black.
And maybe you dont have to reupholster the entire chair - how about just the cushions (back and seat)- in a solid bright contrasting fabric - like aqa blue/Magenta pink/Fanta Orange/Sunny yellow. The black stain on the wood will give a nice contrast and the bright solid fabric on the cushion will give that modern retro feel..Also the reupholstering should work out less expensive. Not sure if this your style though.

www.lushlivings.com/store

Do not stain the wood, it would ruin it. That looks like it could be some fine wood so I would look into oil options which will let you darken it a bit, but won't murder the richness of the wood. Don't get me wrong, I have a lot of stained furniture, but that is because I built it out of cheap wood.

Leave the wood alone! It's already beautiful. As for the upholstery, redo it. I think a rich, mossy-green velvet would be nice.

Those are great chairs. I agree with lowering the height of the back cushions. And don't paint the wood if you want to be able to pass them along as family heirlooms. Otherwise, have them upholstered in any fabric that goes with your decor and that you're willing to live with for a long time or re-re-upholster in a few years. They do lend themselves to the midcentury aesthetic if that's what you go for, but you could keep them more traditional with a more understated fabric.

One question: does HE want to recover the chairs? If he wants to recover or change them, then go for it. If he doesn't want to change them, let them be for a while, and revisit the issue later.

I'd change the fabric- there's a lot of good suggestions up above!

I would say don't paint. If you want to be sensitive to the BF, maybe reupholster in a similar, but more modern, fabric in the same color vein. Good luck! I think they're beautiful.

I love the home decor fabrics from Anna Maria Horner. If you go that route, I'd leave the wood because the fabrics are very color rich.

I do not usually say this but do not paint. The wood is just fine. However do go bold in the fabric color. geometrical patterns and/or bright color (by the way I would love them in an electric blue or royal blue, but it is up to you...). as someone suggested an Ikea fabric could even work if you are on a tight budget. Ikea carries a really cool cotton velvet in blue that you could use for upholstering the chair and then you could opt for a black and white fabric for the pillows.

I think a menswear fabric, like a pinstripe, would look amazing with the wood. It would add a masculine edge and create more of a club look.

ewg109 that menswear fabric idea is awesome. Good call!

Groovy lines, I like the little lip/edge to the arms. I wouldn't paint the wood, maybe a stain or just an good cleaning and oil treatment. Yes, shorten the loose back cushion or swap it out. I would use several different fabrics, or perhaps leather and fabric - possibly one choice for the "exterior" of the chair, another for the "interior" and a third for the pillows/cushions. Oh my - just used your corrected Mokum link - ahhhhhh - gorgeous fabrics. And they are combining several on one piece as well. Take your time with is - but DO latch onto those chairs!!

These are timeless.... consider the outside of the chairs in a textured solid colour fabric, such as caramel, bronze, or copper which will tie in with the wood edges.
Then the interior fabric can be anything colourful, even a moderne print. In the years to come, the interior cushions are all that you would need to change. Yes lower the
back seat cushion, add a soft curve which reflects the bow
style of the arm. Make it fun.

I third ewg109's suggestion of taking cues from men's suits. The slim, sleek lines of the wood beg for something tailored and restrained, like a grey tweed.

Lowering the back cushion will give the chairs a more authentic (and stylish) 40's profile.

Needless to say, don't paint the wood.

I also think something tweedy and nubby would be nice - and period-appropriate, without being slavishly so. Plus, it would be durable, which is good if you're going to make the investment to reupholster.

I reupholstered my grandfather's nicotine-stained chairs and, though they are a bit unorthodox, I am very happy with them.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lowfirestudio/sets/72157624068866103/

(please pardon the grad-student-income decor)

I've seen some incredible chairs with similar lines upholstered chairs in a light brown linen, with distressed white paint on the wood -- definitely a bit beachy & neutral, and in my opinion absolutely stunning.

I love the Etsy seller who sells under "Gussy restyled vintage chairs". Check them out for inspiration.

I'm waiting to see what bepsf and patrick TOO have to say.

I won't paint the wood, but I would give them a dark stain. I love dark stained wood. It makes me hot.
As for fabric, it really depends on where these chairs are going and how they converse with the other colours in the room.

By the way, I also have 2 chairs. I've done 1 and have the other still to go. I stained the wood with a black stain and used a charcoal and grey thick-stripe fabric to upholster. It looks very chic and sexy.

The fabric looks (on my computer) vaguely like an Ikat pattern. If you used real Ikat on the removable cushions, that might be the super-cheap way to update the chairs, without expensive reupholstery. But if you have the $$ for reupholstery, go for it.

The upholstery is obviously not original and is nothing like what would have been on them in Germany in the 30's. My first reaction was to go over-the-top granny and go with a cool, oversized floral pattern in bright colors. My second reaction is "calm down" and do a little research on 30's era Europe for inspiration. Sometimes "what's old is new again" and you might be surprised at how cool the fabrics were!

You could also try using Simply Spray Upholstery Paint. Since the fabric is a light color, it should be easy to cover with the paint. It will stay soft to the touch. Just be sure to test it first on the fabric in an area that can't be seen. Also, tape off the wood. Blue painters tape will work fine. You can find the paint colors at www.simplyspray.com

White fabric, black glossy wood? But add texture to the white fabric. It's streamlined but cute...