I also like controlled scrappy quilts. Or if they aren't so controlled, lots of a consistent color or fabric separating the scraps helps. Someone said in a post recently that lots of colors and patterns in a quilt make brown. That is so true, IMHO. A too-scrappy quilt looks a little too muddy. I know because I've made that quilt! LOL. So I often start with a inspiration fabric, some print where I like its color scheme. I may or may not use it in the quilt, but I know if I generally use its colors, I'll end up with a scheme that I like.
Sometimes something in the wrong place is interesting, but too much of it is disruptive. So I think a goal to keep in mind is do something that your son criticizes ;-). That, in the grand scheme of a well-designed quilt is a good thing, IMHO.