Do a little research and choose a visual style that will appeal whoever the website is aimed at.
Start by choosing the most appropriate typeface, then work on a colour scheme and imagery. Does the site have competitors that it needs to stand out from?
It can be detrimental if a site looks dated, but if your target market aren't made up of designers, then it's probably not as big a deal as you imagine.
Essentially, it doesn't matter if neither you or your client like the particular visual style as long as it is right for your users. It's also your job to explain this to the client (which can be tough sometimes).
Do a little research and choose a visual style that will appeal whoever the website is aimed at.
Start by choosing the most appropriate typeface, then work on a colour scheme and imagery. Does the site have competitors that it needs to stand out from?
It can be detrimental if a site looks dated, but if your target market aren't made up of designers, then it's probably not as big a deal as you imagine.
Essentially, it doesn't matter if neither you or your client like the particular visual style as long as it is right for your users. It's also your job to explain this to the client (which can be tough sometimes).