5 Interior Designers Share Their Wildest Client Requests

For the most part, interior designers understand the scope of their work after just a few initial meetings with potential clients, but now and then, when they’re already deep into a project, they get a request so unexpected that it manages to astound them. No, it’s never offensive or outlandish—at least not enough to make them want to abandon a project mid-way through—but it definitely takes them by surprise, to say the least. After all, few people like to have more fun than those with a brave sense of personal style.

Curious to know what some of the wildest client requests are? Us, too—so we tapped five renowned interior designers to share the most unexpected asks they’ve received throughout their careers. Consider this your permission to ask for whatever it is you want—even if that’s a rotating disco ball.

Kinetic Clock

Jeffrey R. Roberts

Massive wall clocks are hardly an outlandish request, but when we picture one, we can’t help but imagine a classic device with loudly ticking hands. This wall clock in Freeport, Maine, on the other hand, is like nothing we’ve ever seen. It’s the work of Annapolis, Maryland-based firm Crosby Jenkins, who happily incorporated the standout piece into a recent client’s home. “The interesting thing with this project is the clock that my clients commissioned and integrated into the chimney breast of the locally sourced stone fireplace,” says associate designer Jay Jenkins. “It’s an amazing piece of kinetic art, and it references the Maine aesthetic that useful objects are worthy of the status of fine art.”

Motorized Disco Ball

Jonny Valiant

The disco ball may have reigned supreme throughout the late 1970s and into the early ’80s, but in this New York City penthouse, local Manhattanite and designer Harry Heissmann brought it back in a big (and much more modern) way. “It had to be motorized and with a light shining on it,” the designer says. “For the disco ball challenge, we found a very special vintage one, reputedly from a 1940s-era Harlem ballroom,” he adds. It’s been said that Andy Warhol owned a similar disco ball in his infamous midtown Factory.

Bespoke Meditation Room

Julie Soefer

At first glance, there’s nothing particularly extravagant or wild about this space—that is, until we learned what the room was used for. The completely bespoke meditation room was a specific request from designer Marie Flanigan’s client, who wanted a place to decompress and recenter. “One of the most memorable requests I’ve ever received came during the design of this Highland Park house, where our client asked for a dedicated meditation room as part of the primary suite,” she notes. “Not a yoga nook, not a wellness corner. A full-on, mood-driven, soul-nourishing space for daily stillness.” It was, the designer adds, such a rare and beautiful ask—”and we leaned all the way in.”

When conceptualizing the space, Flanigan wanted to make sure she and her team got it right, nailing the serenity aspect to the tee. “We layered the walls in a stunning suede to create an almost cave-like hush to the room. The fireplace became the emotional anchor, framed in warm wood and matte black tile, meant to draw the eye and quiet the mind.” What’s more, she incorporated intentionally low, cloud-like seating to encourage lounging, reflecting, or simply being. “The color palette is rich but grounded, and every object—from the soft sculpture of the green tufted chair to the Buddha perched near the window—was chosen with intention,” Flanigan adds.

As beautiful as the space is, aesthetics weren’t Flanigan’s primary goal when designing it. She wanted it to be more about disconnecting from the world than about creating a photo-worthy moment in an already-gorgeous home. “It was about creating a space where someone could reconnect with themself. It felt like designing a sanctuary—and it remains one of the most soulful rooms we’ve ever had the joy to create.”

“Levitating” Staircase

Joan Sargent

Interior designer and architect Allison Paladino is no stranger to the occasional exorbitant request from her clients. After all, the creative is based in Palm Beach, Florida, one of the country’s most expensive zip codes. Occasionally, though, she and her design partner, Zita Rudd, receive an ask so specific, it takes several attempts to get the final result to a state of perfection.

“When we started this Jupiter, Florida, project, the overall vibe of the U-shaped home was great, but there was one major issue: the main staircase, which was only about eight feet wide. It looked more like a service staircase than a main one,” she explains. The client, an empty-nester couple who avidly collect art, wanted a primary staircase that complemented the nearby large-scale paintings (two originals by Los Angeles artist America Martin) and metal sculpture.

“I really wanted to design something that was a focal point and more like a work of art for the replacement staircase,” Paladino notes. “After presenting three concepts, the client chose this stacked one that looks as if it’s levitating in the air. We also custom-designed a console in their foyer to echo the stacked steps of the staircase.”

Luxury Outdoor Sauna

Vanessa Alexander

Of course, installing a spa-like amenity in your en suite is hardly that extravagant, but tasking your interior designer with creating a completely bespoke infrared sauna barrel in your outdoor space is something you don’t hear about every day. At this Malibu oasis, Los Angeles-based designer Vanessa Alexander outfitted the backyard with one of the most serene elements any Californian could have: a custom sauna.

“We collaborate with landscape designers to bring these kinds of spaces to life, thoughtfully integrating wellness into the outdoors in ways that feel natural, seamless, and deeply personal,” she says. The sauna, however, isn’t even one of the more unusual wellness-related requests she’s received, though. In fact, she admits, the most unexpected ask came from a client whose focus was on the water. “One of the more unique requests we’ve tackled was a pool and cold plunge system that naturally ionizes water using silver, copper, and carbon dioxide,” she notes. “It’s a low-maintenance way to keep things clean without harsh chemicals.”

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