This month we'll continue with "C" in regards to the "ABC's" to making small changes in your home.  "C" stands for "Color."  Recently, Benjamin Moore announced their 2015 "Color of the Year" which is "Guilford Green."  It is part of their Historical Collection.  Benjamin Moore describes it as, "A neutral that's a natural.  A silvery green that works with, well, everything."  
Color is one of the most personal aspects of design and also one of the easiest and most affordable ways to make a big impact without spending a lot of money.  Color creates life and energy.  Color can greatly change the personality of a space.  Color can be uplifting and even make you smile!  
Here are some color tricks that you can use to help infuse color into your home:
* Paint a wall up to chair rail height
* Paint wooden floors
* Paint the interior of cabinets or bookcases
* Paint your ceiling a different color....ceilings don't have to be white 
The most important thing is, color should be fun.  Don't be afraid of it! 

Last month we talked about the "A" in the "ABC's" with regards to making small changes in your home, and this month we continue with the letter "B." The "B" stands for the "Begin With the Architecture."  The architecture is something that already exists, and you want to use it to your full advantage in order to make a big difference in the way a room looks.  Think about the style of your home, the amenities that you would like to accentuate and the focal points of a particular room.  Let's look at a handful of small changes that allow you to achieve a different look architecturally. 
You can change the facade on a fireplace or add moldings to contribute to the historic aspect of the architecture.  Installing stained or painted ceiling beams can really change the look in a room.  Adding built-ins to existing blank walls adds character as well as functionality.  Drawers, shelving, and bookcases add storage and can be used to take advantage of usable space that might otherwise be wasted.
Consider the height of your ceilings and paint them a color instead of white.  When ceilings and walls are painted a different color, the area where they meet becomes a focal point.  If you have a low ceiling, paint the walls and ceiling the same color so there will not be a line of demarcation.  If you have a high ceiling, paint it a color to help lower the ceiling.  Eggshell paint has a little bit of sheen and can help to bounce light off of surfaces due to its reflective quality.
Recycling and repurposing architectural items such as windows, light fixtures, drawers and doors can give you a unique look and is good for the environment.  You can paint, stain or tile existing stair risers to give an entryway more panache.  Brightly colored fabric or paint inside a glass-paneled door can give your cabinets a personality all their own!