With everyone having a different idea of modern and mixing them with traditional it may be time to sit down with her and a few magazines or pattern books and have you both visualize some ideas. In some minds it is a matter of colors or combinations of things. With something like this you may not want to chance it coming out wrong.
FYI on a more personal note: I am now in the process of remaking a quilt that broke someones heart because the original quilt was nothing like what the customer envisioned. The quilt maker I am sure thought she had the vision of the customer but was so far off they are no longer speaking to one another after a lifetime of friendship. Once cut into those memories are not replaceable.
Total communication is the best thing to do when working with memories.