Thank you everyone for your input. Wish I had enough material to make both, but my Husband had the final say (it's a surprise for my FIL - he wore out my MILs quilt once she passed away 20+ years ago - so I couldn't really ask him)....anyways, DH chose #1. I picked up a maroon houndstooth pattern to do the borders with and a solid maroon for the backing and binding. It looks better in person then it does in the photo's - the pictures are a wee bit off with the colouring. I like the complexity of #2, but I didn't think my FIL would like that one (sigh)