apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would paint them with a bright color and recover the seats with a fun pattern. I can totally picture them in a sun room or office that way.

caning is two types: pressed or hand-woven. the hand-woven is expensive (i know because i do it) but the pressed cane is fairly easy to do or inexpensive to have done and it looks like what you have there.

Simple. Paint them white.. You will have to prime them first with kilz. Swap out the vinyl for an upholstery fabric of your choice.- You may want to get a couple swatches and test out the material first.

I would either repaint them a dark brown, or try to get the wood stained in a darker tone, and cover them with a William Morris type fabric. Maybe even change the caning for something else : if the holes are large enough, you could even try to re-weave something, like wool or very thin ribbons or whatever.
Those curved elements that strengthen the chair back seem to have a nice shape that you could try to enhance, by placing the chairs by a source of light. Or why not just remove the caning completely if the chair remains comfortable?

If the chair back has a groove - use pressed cane
If your chair has multiple holes - use the cane which must be woven.
https://www.paxtonhardware.com/departments.asp?dept=357

They're potentially cool and the ideas above are very good, but if your heart's not in it, don't invest the time. Just because you've got the chairs doesn't mean you need to keep them forever or be the one to fix them up. Just a thought from someone with way to many things on the to-do list! Good luck!

Sell them and get something you like. It sounds like other people have ideas about revamping the chairs, so chances are someone will buy them from you to paint, re-cane, reupholster, whatever.

I bet you will feel relieved to start fresh.

Sell them. Someone else will LOVE the gothic vibe.

if you're stuck with them, and can't sell them..........recover the seats with natural canvas that you pre-wash and scotchguard, and sew "slipcovers" for the caned back. the back has a pretty shape, and a quick rub-down of the wood with restor-a-finish http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/la/painting-fixing-repairs/great-products-restorafinish-and-feednwax-053669 would brighten the wood. you could use any fabric that stretches and staples easily, and is also "stitchable" by home sewing machine. velcro tabs are one way to attach the cover to the back of the chair.

I had to post. I just passed a Caning shop yesterday in Berkeley. I didn't know where to find one when I was in a similar situation as you are now.

Details:
Caning Shop
www.caningshop.com

926 Gilman St
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 527-5010