Those older pieces...are they dark? If so, I'd sand them down and paint them all white with a hard shell high gloss finish. Make everything the same color so it doesn't look so choppy. Use a bit of fabric and mod podge to cover all drawer fronts in a bright pattern. You can even mod podge over the laminate! Lighten the walls, bright curtains and keep rearranging things until it fits your needs exactly. It took me a couple of times, but I finally got it right! You will end up with a bright, fun creative space to spend your quilty hours!