I've come to the conclusion that it's just not for me to make quilts that someone else dictates the style, fabrics, or pattern. I don't enjoy it, and often, the person who did all that picking is not all that thrilled by the end result either.
So now I make quilts that I like. If someone sees the end result and finds it appealing, chances are, I will give it to them. Occasionally I will make a quilt specifically for an individual, keeping in mind their general preferences or color scheme of their home. But my feeling is that if someone wants to design a quilt and micromanage the choices that go into the making -- they need to learn to quilt for themselves.
RST