Replacing a kitchen tap is a cost-effective and stylish way of upgrading a home, a design commentator has said.Susan Dunlap wrote for the McClatchy News Service that little changes around a house could bring instant satisfaction without exceeding tight budgets.Ms Dunlap pointed to her own experience in her home kitchen where she had replaced an ugly, utilitarian kitchen tap with a chrome, goose-neck model.Afterward, every time I walked into the kitchen, my eyes fell onto that shining piece of kitchen jewellery, and I couldnt help but smile, she said.According to Ms Dunlap, other cost-effective kitchen and home improvements include the replacement of fixtures and hardware items such as cabinet and draw handles. She added that instead of repainting or upgrading major appliances, kitchen owners could use small counter-top appliances to add a sense of fun and colour to kitchen sink areas.Bowen Family Homes recently offered a range of kitchen upgrades at one of its elegant housing developments including stainless steel sinks and hardwood floors.