I agree w/Tallulah.... :)

Personally I think making, or buying, a gift for someone without gearing it to their likes and dislikes, taste, decor, style of living, and personality...especially when you know these things for sure...is just plain wrong. Gifts are about the recipient, not the giver.

There are hundreds of fabrics, blocks and quilt patterns that fit the description you have given of your family's preferences and that would not compromise your style at all. Quilt blocks are about value and contrast more than fabric color and print. You could do most of them in shades of gray and they would be just as effective. Limiting the colors actually makes the pattern stand out more than the fabrics. If in doubt, look at the Amish quilts, the Gee's Bend quilts, Denyse Schmidt's quilts.

stop showing them a block!!! what seems busy in a block (because it's a small area with a lot going on) may not be so busy as a whole quilt, you can have busy blocks with a solid, or marbled sashing/border pulling it together that does not look busy at all. i have people who do not like (busy) at all...i have never had a person not like the finished quilt. you really can not get a true idea how a quilt will look by just a block (unless you are making and exact copy of a quilt...like a kit)

The Amish 2 color quilts are beautiful and look very contemporary.

how about a two-color quilt - northwind is a good one, then the layout makes all the difference. My G'son only wants a green quilt. In fact two g'sons want green quilts. am using a batik and a shaded solid color that grabs one of the greens in the quilt. Someday I may even have both of them done!

http://quilterscache.com/N/NorthWindBlock_Page3.html