Oddest design requests

From Architectural Digest:
"SAMUEL BOTERO
The most unusual request that comes to mind was designing an interior in an upper east side Manhattan townhouse that was designed as a bamboo fantasy straight out of the tropics to the point of vines and mosses hanging from the moldings. The funniest request I ever received was from a client who asked me to design a red apartment when her husband who was present had just finished telling me that he hated red. We compromised with burgundy."

"GEOFFREY BRADFIELD
We recently completed a 7,000 square foot penthouse in Chicago. My client, who is a major art collector, requested that we design the apartment around an eighteen foot by twelve foot Stella construction. I loved the challenge; fortunately, the apartment had seventeen foot ceilings and during space planning, we were able to create a dramatic entrance hall to house the art piece. But challenge it was. Being on the 66th floor, we were unable to transport the sculpture in the available elevators and were forced to use a helicopter for the hoist. This required navigating reams of red tape to obtain permission from the city. It had to take place on a Sunday and due to inclement weather, had to be scrubbed several times. Nothing as rewarding as pleasing a discerning client."

"DIANE BURN
If I could move to Saudia Arabia (asked to me by a Saudi Sheik) and design his hotel and eat rice with my hands."

"ELISSA CULLMAN
One of the most original requests we had from a client was to design a custom stencil for her entry foyer—incorporating her favorite motif—snakes. Our challenge was to design friendly serpents that did not look misplaced in her fairly traditional Colonial revival home."

"DONNA LIVINGSTON
The most unusual and fun request was to implement a removable fiber optic, lucite stripper pole in the living room of a Las Vegas penthouse. Anyone like to dance? Wanting to accommodate, I did a lot of research on platforms, lights, poles and materials. As it turns out, this has not been such an unusual request—my lips are sealed."

"RODERICK SHADE
Believe it or not, a 1970s disco daddy wanted mirror and adjustable spot lights over his bed. Of course I did it—but didnt tell anyone."

"WILLIAM W. STUBBS
Once I had a client who said, “I don’t want any of the furniture to be comfortable.” My associate said she’d never see a look on my face that even came close to my reaction to this"

"GRAHAM VINEY
A decorative frieze comprising the client’s winning poker hands."

http://www.architecturaldigest.com/architects/features/2008/01/tell_all_request_article_012008?currentPage=2