You could bump up the contrast with some darker pieces of the same shades -- for example, a darker gray, darker mossy green -- and a very light cream/yellow. I hear you, tho -- no fun to work on something you think is ugly!

I know what you mean, but you might be surprised how you like it once you get started. I once made a baby quilt for someone that was dark brown, pink, and mint green. Ugghh! I was dreading it like nobody's business. I kept thinking "well, this is for them, I don't have to look at it." Once I got the top pieced, I was surprised how much I liked it! Good luck with whatever you decide. You could do the neutrals on the front and then pop some color into the backing fabric...just sayin'.

The Bride sounds like a fan of modern quilt designs. If she likes soft and neutral colors, you should make her a quilt using those colors. You might surprise yourself. Keep the design simple with plenty of open negative spaces in it and the splashes of tan, yellow, green with the gray and white will make a nice quilt. Google modern quilt designs and find something to base you quilt design upon. Good luck!

Here is what I did when I needed to make a quilt in colors that didn't thrill me. I think if you find a layer cake in the right color family you can pull it off without too much agony.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/picture...t-t214462.html

Not a big fan of baby pastels - but - take a look at the Victorian Modern fabric collection - Andover Fabrics. I am dying to get my hands on some of that stuff thinking that the periwinkle quilt would be absolutely gorgeous. I would call the colors sophisticated pastels.

Pastel batiks mixed with white may be my answer.

I don't have a lot of those colors either but I have to tell you that a friend of mine did a disappearing nine patch in all beiges (light to light med) with some whites thrown in and although that is not my favorite pattern it was beautiful.

I'm not a pastel fan either, but if you google pastel quilts there are some lovely designs especially those using large pastel florals. And I remember seeing a log cabin posted here that was all done in creams and tans that was just stunning.

Pastel Coin Stack
 

Here is one I made using pastels....a coin stack which is really easy ......Charisma quilted it for me....it turned out so darn nice and i`m not a fan of pastels either

This is just what I was thinking. You need contrast and you can build that in and still use her colours. I imagine something very calming. Good luck with it!