After reading through all of the posts just had to add my 2 cents. Using your red and cutting narrow biasis strips to applique around your other pieces will add interest to what you have done already, you might also vary it with the striped white and black; the gray background is just that the background that you are building on. I think your gut is already telling you what you want to do, go for it you are on the right track and the red background is just way too overwhelming.