Going to ask some obvious questions but sometimes we forget the obvious.
1. You have unzipped the CC?
2. For the defaults, you have clicked on the items to see if it shows up? If I recall correctly, the thumbnail pics for the items don't change (possible, I think if you do something, but I forget what that something is).
3. For Maxis objects, you have downloaded the Color Enable Package (CEP), correct? You need that mod for recolors and I'd imagine for defaults as well.