I recently made over these barrel back wing-chairs. Transforming them from a nauseating bright orange crushed velvet to a more tailored-masculine charcoal gray plaid and soft gray flannel. See the full story and more pics here http://www.martinelouise.com/2012/03/mid-cen...

I also sanded and stained the legs with Ace Hardward black / brown stain. Lesson learned - make sure you are super super super thorough with sanding first so the new stain will adhere. Also start with a rough grain sand paper and gradually move to a more fine grain to get a smooth finish - wiping away dust after. I allowed 5-7 hours between each coat, I did 3 total to get a dark solid finish. I also peeled back the old fabric before doing this to get right to the top of the legs. Also do this BEFORE you get them re-covered and lay down lots of plastic. Super messy job! I didn't seal the legs yet, but you can buy a clear seal if they're going to get wear and tear.