I think A is too busy and distracting.
Layout B showcases the blocks much better.
Your eye is drawn to the blocks with B, whereas in layout A, my eye is drawn to the grey crosses
and not the blocks; which should be the star of the show!
I might even take an inch or two off the width of the grey strips...
maybe have them be twice as wide the red sashing. That would balance it out a little better.
