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Ideas and tips to make your home a welcoming place for spending time in and making memories.

  • Happier Home

    Making Home Safer: Swann Security Review

    February 27, 2023February 27, 2023

    This post was sponsor-supported by Swann Security. All views and opinions expressed in this piece are my own and unaltered. Thanks for supporting my blog and sponsors. It wasn’t all that long ago when home video security systems were thought of as something that only wealthy people could afford; protecting mansions in ritzy areas. But

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  • Happier Home

    Great Kids Books Parents Won’t Mind Reading Again… and Again

    July 26, 2022October 28, 2022

    This post contains affiliate links – that means if you click on a link in this post and buy something through it, I might earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting my blog as part of my job! 🙂 Some nights I absolutely love reading my kids a book

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  • Nerd Life

    Meet Luka! Introducing a New Puppy to Our Moody Older Dog

    February 24, 2022January 4, 2023

    Well, we finally did it. After (only) a couple of years of thinking about it, we got another dog! Meet Luka, our beautiful Australian Shepherd x border collie puppy. She is 12 weeks old today and has turned our house and lives upside down… in a mostly good way. She loves belly rubs, going to

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  • Happier Home

    Miss Nerd’s Bedroom Update: Emma Mattress Review

    January 27, 2022February 24, 2022

    This post is sponsor-supported by Emma Sleep, who gifted me a mattress for review. All words and opinions are entirely my own. Thank you for supporting my blog’s sponsors! A little while ago it was time to finally upgrade Miss Nerd to a ‘big girl’ bed. We got her a new (secondhand) bed frame off

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  • Happier Home

    Robot Vacuum Review: the Ecovacs DeebotT9+

    August 6, 2021January 27, 2022

    Wasn’t it exciting when robot floor vacuums came out some ten-odd years ago? Well, perhaps you’re not as easily excited as I am, but as a lifelong hater of vacuuming, I thought it was awesome. It made me feel like, WE HAVE ARRIVED. We have house robots now! Look how far tech has come in

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  • Advice

    How to Choose the Perfect Cabinet Handles and Hardware (and a Giveaway!)

    July 12, 2021July 13, 2021

    This post was sponsored by Manovella. Thanks for supporting my blog’s wonderful sponsors. There are so many decisions to be made when you are renovating an older home or building a new house – if you’ve ever felt a little conflicted or stuck, you won’t be alone! Choosing colours, materials and things for your home

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  • Happier Home

    How We Made Our Old House Warmer

    July 4, 2021August 1, 2021

    Who’s feeling the cold right now? Yes, I know the whole running joke about people in winter in Perth, where it gets to 16 degrees (60 Fahrenheit for those of you overseas) and people start squawking and moaning that they’re freezing to death. To give people overseas an idea, it never snows in Western Australia.

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  • Happier Home

    Eating at Home: Our Eggs Benny Chan Recipe Hack

    June 21, 2021July 5, 2021

    Forget rose petals on the bed and chocolates for Valentine’s Day. My idea of romance is the Sunday morning I got to sleep in late, then wake up to see Mr Nerd had made breakfast. But not just any breakfast. He had prepared for me a replica of one of my all-time favourite, iconic Perth

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  • Happier Home

    Win Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products from Resparkle

    June 7, 2021June 21, 2021

    I’m definitely not alone when I say we are constantly thinking about ways we can reduce our plastic use. I think a lot of us are – these days most people in Australia know that single-use plastics are terrible for the environment. We are far from living a plastic-free lifestyle, but we try to reduce

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  • Gardens

    How To Grow a Lush Garden from Cuttings – for Free

    May 30, 2021June 7, 2021

    There is nothing that chills my husband to the bone more than me than the sound of me screeching, “STOP THE CAR. I SEE PLANTS.” I have gotten so, so many plants for our yard – for free – by finding them on the side of the road, in the wonderful scheme that is green

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  • Happier Home

    Why You Need Plants in Your Workspace (and a Giveaway with The Plant Runner!)

    April 7, 2021May 1, 2021

    One of my favourite things to give as a gift has got to be a plant. Most people like them; they’re usually a decent gift for that person who already has everything, they’re good for your health and wellbeing (more on that below) and they (generally) tend to have a shelf life longer than cut

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  • Gardens

    You’ll Love this Cute Indoor Plant Shop

    January 15, 2021July 4, 2021

    Perth plant fans, there is an indoor plant paradise right here in suburbia called Novos Home Nursery, and it is amazing. Can you believe this place is someone’s backyard – and you can go there to buy plants? Novo’s Home Nursery in Leeming is run by a lovely family that have turned their backyard into

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  • Before & After

    A Resourceful Makeover for my Mum’s Guest Bed (my old teen bedroom!)

    September 19, 2020August 2, 2021

    For much of my adult life, I’ve had the same recurring dream; I’m in a big house and I discover a secret passage or a secret room. It’s always quite thrilling and I always wake up feeling vaguely disappointed that there is absolutely no chance that my 1970s brick 3 x 2 in Perth suburbia

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  • Happier Home

    A House Clean by Fantastic Services Review (and WIN a Clean!)

    August 18, 2020September 19, 2020

    Have you ever had a house so messy you feel like you are going to scream? If that’s never been you, I envy you. (And how are you managing to achieve this?) While we have had numerous fantastic once-off cleans and had a terrific weekly cleaner back when our first-born was a baby, for the

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  • Happier Home

    A Bed in a Box? Macoda Mattress Review

    April 22, 2020January 17, 2021

    It was a happy coincidence that Mr Nerd and I had just been talking about replacing our old mattress, as it was getting close to the end of its life, when I got an email came out of the blue from a locally based company called Macoda – asking if we would like to try

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  • Happier Home

    How to Work From Home With Little Kids

    April 2, 2020June 5, 2020

    Wow – how things have changed lately. Without going on too much about all the negative things about COVID-19 – I know we all know it by now! – what it means for a lot of people is that we are working from home… and many of us with children home too. For me, having

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  • Happier Home

    A House Decorated by Marketplace – and Tips for Thrifting

    January 23, 2020February 7, 2020

    Of all the bad things to come out of Facebook – the creepy harvesting of our online data, a rise in loneliness, infidelities kindled from long-lost acquaintances, the erosion of individual self-worth through unfavourable comparison, to name just a few – there are also a lot of good things. For example, I re-met my now-husband

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  • Happier Home

    Make Your Home Beautiful with Bambury (and WIN a $500 Gift Voucher!)

    December 15, 2019February 7, 2020

    If you are after one of the quickest, most affordable and also easiest ways to freshen up a bedroom or living space, I always think new cushions are a fail-proof way to go. Nothing brightens and lifts a space quite as easily! Add in a fresh new plant and you’ve treated your room or outdoor

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  • Happier Home

    Bedtonic – A Local Linen Business I Really Love (and a Giveaway!)

    October 16, 2019May 24, 2021

    I always admire it when people don’t merely just dream or talk about doing things, but they actually go out and give them a red-hot go. It makes sense that I frequently admire small business owners, professionals and creatives, and one of my favourite local businesses is also run by one of the nicest women.

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  • Happier Home

    Spring Cleaning Tips with Max Kater – and WIN an Epic Murchison-Hume Prize Pack!

    October 6, 2019December 15, 2019

    If you’re like most people, the very mention of the words “spring cleaning” makes you want to dive under the covers and hope for six more weeks of winter. Decluttering, doing a deep clean of your whole house, knocking off all those cobwebs to get your outdoor area ready for the warmer weather… we all

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  • Home Projects

    How to Make An Amazing Succulent Bowl

    September 15, 2019June 8, 2021

    If you have ever admired a pretty succulent bowl but thought they looked too tricky to make one at home (or that you’d kill it anyway) I have good news! Succulent bowls are super-easy to put together; and even if you’re a total black thumb with plants, you can keep one alive and thriving, I

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  • Happier Home

    Why Hobbies Are Important (Especially for Parents)

    September 9, 2019October 3, 2019

    Lately there’s a saying that’s been doing the rounds on social media – that to help maintain overall health and wellbeing, you need not just one, but precisely three hobbies. One to keep you fit, one that exercises your creativity, one to make you money. It’s a very neat and clever little idea, and I

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  • Happier Home

    Cook and Clean Perth (and Win a Free House Clean!)

    August 23, 2019September 11, 2019

    When I first heard of Cook and Clean WA four years ago, my first thought was, “What a good business idea!” I think Little Nerd was about six months old, and the reality of how hard juggling a baby and a job (with a husband on frequent work trips away) had most definitely sunken in

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  • best-books-about-houses

    Nerd Life

    14 Great Books About Houses: My Reviews

    April 14, 2019December 27, 2021

    This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means if you purchase something through an affiliate link on my site, I may make a small commission on the purchase – at no extra cost to you. If I was down to my last $20, I’d probably buy a

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  • Happier Home

    What I’d Buy on Facebook Marketplace Today (If I Wasn’t Broke)

    February 2, 2019December 16, 2019

    I was a teenager the first time someone told me I had an addictive personality, and I didn’t know what it meant. “Oh!” I said brightly. “Meaning people find me addictive?” I was picturing myself as this alluring, magnetic creature. “NO,” they shot back rudely. “It just means that you get addicted to things very

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  • Happier Home

    Saving Money on Our Gas Bill

    November 18, 2018November 18, 2018

    This post was a paid partnership with Origin Energy. Thank you for supporting my blog’s sponsors. Woah, 2018. It’s been a very busy – and expensive – year for us. This year we made massive changes to our house’s façade with our Scyon Walls cladding makeover; a project that grew into the goal of improving

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  • Our House

    Our Living Room Makeover Series: The Before Pictures

    June 27, 2018April 5, 2019

    Even though our living room is one of the two rooms in our home where we spend the most time, after years of living here, I still never felt like we had fully finished it or properly styled it. A little embarrassing – most people seem to do the living room first, don’t they? I

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  • Happier Home

    How a Freezer Club Can Make You More Organised (and a Giveaway!)

    May 31, 2018July 22, 2019

    My freezer club started with a jar of homemade tomato sauce left on my doorstep. A friend of mine had messaged the girls group chat and said she’d just made a huge vat of veggie-filled passata but had way too much – would anyone else like some? Four of us said yes please. I added

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  • Happier Home

    How to Minimise External Noise Coming Into Your Home

    December 16, 2016February 23, 2020

    Hi House Nerd, I live in an old home in Fremantle that I am renovating and would love some tips on how to reduce road noise in my house. Being close to the street and constructed of weatherboard I hear every car that passes and it is getting quite frustrating especially when trying to sleep.

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  • Happier Home

    A Mother of Three’s Completely Edible Suburban Garden

    March 8, 2015February 25, 2020

    Can you be self-sufficient from the average-sized suburban garden? I don’t know, but the owner of this one is definitely trying – and she has such an awesome garden that I think half of you will be itching to plant sweet potatoes or peaches this weekend. I was introduced to home owner Kate Reading by

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  • house-nerd-craft-room-junk-room-makeover-studio

    Before & After

    My ‘Monica’s Closet’ – My Junk Room Turned Studio

    December 18, 2013June 11, 2021

    Hands up if you have a junk room in your house. Or a junk cupboard? Come on – at least a junk drawer? If you have none of these, and your entire house is as organised as Martha Stewart’s pantry, I envy you. But if you have that messy part of your house that has

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  • Happier Home

    10 Tips for Styling a Home on a Budget

    October 6, 2013May 15, 2021

    When it comes to creating a beautiful and comfortable home, you really don’t need a ton of spare cash. No, really! I’m often awed by people who pull off a gorgeous home given only a tight budget. Of all the designers and decorators I know, one of those who is very, very good at styling

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  • Advice

    Renovating a Rental… As A Tenant

    August 14, 2013May 15, 2021

    “Dear Nelly and Sam, I just wanted to say thank you for being such wonderful tenants, looking after the house so well and particularly for all the improvements you made. The bathroom looks particularly wonderful. I love the photos on the blog site… from that I got the impression you enjoyed living there as much

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    housenerd

    One of my favourite pieces of tech in our home is One of my favourite pieces of tech in our home is our @sproutaus Immerse Bluetooth Speaker. I was gifted one of these for a review two years ago, and we still use it all the time. The sound quality is so good, and I really notice how being able to play your favourite music easily boosts your mood and enhances your day-to-day life 🎶😊
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To be honest, I said yes to receiving this initially to be able to give it to Mr Nerd, who is a huge music fan. I knew it would score me points! 😁 But the truth is the speaker has been something our whole family loves. We play music on it while cooking, baking, prepping oranges for Boy Nerd’s football.... I can’t believe I’ve become a footy mum now -  I don’t smile like this on those freezing early mornings! 🥶😆 It also gets a workout during dinner parties, barbecues, we take it on holidays, and it fits on the basket of my e-Bike for picnics. The rechargeable battery offers up to 4 to 5 hours of unplugged playtime 🎶
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Immerse also has two built-in wireless charging pads for effortless convenience – you can charge two phones off it at once! No more slyly unplugging your partner’s phone to charge your own 😉📱<📱
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#ad #gifted #sponsored #sproutaus #housenerd #housenerdhome #wablog #homeproducts #immersebluetoothspeaker #greattech #techforthehome #howwehome #bluetoothproducts #70shouse #perthhomes #perthblog
    Perfect rainy weather for sofa snuggles 🌧️ Th Perfect rainy weather for sofa snuggles 🌧️ This beautiful blanket was a gift from my dear friend Julie @bedtonic. Handmade in Nepal from natural fibres, it is SO SOFT with gorgeous fringed edges. Being cashmere and wool, it's also smell-resistant - great if you have a pet 😆 Bedtonic only sell 'forever' pieces and this is definitely one 🖤
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Speaking of forever pieces, I've talked to so many friends lately about paring back the stuff in our homes. We are all in the same boat with busy lives and work, but want our homes to be more minimal and easier to pick up and manage. I've donated a lot.... but there are some 'forever things' I never will:
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1. My 1930s oak cabinet. A gift from friends for my 28th birthday. It makes me feel like a real grown up 😜 I used to hide my fancy chocolate in it - the kids and hubby would run past it in plain sight a hundred times a day 😶‍🌫️ It was from @postirving (who are back open now!)
2. Two gifts given to me when Nala died. A @winterwares bud vase from @tanya.birnie, and my mini-Nala, handmade as a surprise for me by the beautiful soul behind @something.scouted 🥹 Yep, I cried happy tears when I opened it. 
3. The antique clock. A heirloom from my hubby's family. I love how it looks, hate the hourly chiming! You can turn the sound off with a key. Sometimes to annoy me Mr Nerd has turned it on and hidden the key 🙄
4 Smoking is bad, but this cigarette tin was one of the only items my dad had when he came to Australia so to me it is special. A little reminder of how hard he worked for us and where hard work can get you. 
5. Our cups from Stewart Scambler. Handmade ceramics just FEEL special 🤎
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#gifted #housenerdhome #housenerd #bedtonic #shoplocal #perthsmallbusiness #throw #cosy #rainydays #aussieshepherd #perthhomes #perthblog #wablog #vintage #curatedeclectic #leatherandwood #warmminimal #70shome
    House creeping in leafy suburbs with @tanya_birnie House creeping in leafy suburbs with @tanya_birnie 🌿 I actually took a photo of the first house years ago because I love it so much. But this time there was a dog out the front which now makes it an 11/10 instead of a 10/10 🏆🐩 Let's play! Which lovely old brick home would you have: 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5? 
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#housecreeping #housenerding #perthhomes #homeenvy #oldhouses #perthproperty #houseblog #australianblog #luxuryhomes #perthblog #oldhomes #brickhomes #houseaccount #housestalking
    Well, this customised Monopoly set officially wins Well, this customised Monopoly set officially wins first place for the best business birthday gift - maybe even PR gift - I've ever seen 😆🏆 Local WA building company @plunketthomes recently celebrated their 120th birthday - and sent me this amazing Monopoly set... custom-made to feature Perth suburbs they've built in. Made me laugh. No boots or Scottie dogs either, btw - all the tokens are building tools! You can buy up and build your way through WA suburbs including Cottesloe, Melville and East Freo... notably missing Joondalup and Morley though 😜 "And Dog Swamp," said Mr Nerd. 
"You realise Dog Swamp is not a suburb, right?" I said. 
(We are still arguing. Google is not cooperating).
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As a builder @plunketthomes sit under the @jwhgroup umbrella, along with @oswaldhomes, @ruralbuildingcompany and @wacountrybuilders. I've written about so many JWH homes over the years, and never visited one I didn't love. Not surprised Plunkett are celebrating 120 years of success - congratulations guys 🥳🎂🥂 Looking forward to many more games of building hotels in Dalkeith 💰😏
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#gifted #plunketthomes #buildingcompanyperth #prgift #perthbuilder #perthhomes #housenerd #housenerdhome #perthblog #perthblogger #houseblog #homesblogger #monopoly #giftideas
    Some lovely rain for our summer-parched garden and Some lovely rain for our summer-parched garden and a new blog post 😊 I got a DM recently asking how the driveway we painted in lockdown with @crommelin_australia Tinted Sealer was holding up now. With both old and new driveway to stitch together somehow, this was a job we would have loved to hire out but wasn't in the budget, so we did it DIY  for about $400. I thought I'd show pictures I took today - two years on and after daily use. Just letting you know, I didn't tidy or clean up our garden for your visit. That means we are real friends now 😜 Will link blog post in my Stories 🖤 
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#housenerd #housenerdhome #painteddriveway #crommelin #drivewaypaint #DIYdriveway #womenwhodiy #DIYblog #budgetrenovation #houseblog #budgetrenovating #renovation #paintmakeover #gardenideas #landscapingideas #70shouse #70shouserenovation
    If you saw my little front door makeover the other If you saw my little front door makeover the other day, then you might have seen our newest addition - our video doorbell! 💛Some of you might understand me here – sometimes, you just don’t FEEEL like answering the door to certain people. Right? 

I recently partnered with @swannsecurity to review a couple of their home security options, and had way too much fun creating some content to show their SwannBuddy Video Doorbell 😬😅 Can you guess who I am in each one? I'll be impressed if anyone gets them all right 😜 Who do you like seeing at your doorstep? Who do you NOT answer the door to?

Designed to give young families peace of mind and a feeling of safety at home, I’m impressed with this doorbell. I've put my pros and  cons on the blog, but I can't see us going back to not having one. So good being able to see who is there before you answer it... or don’t 😆 And so useful seeing if you've had a delivery while you're out. Thanks Swann for giving me a fun excuse to have fun with this... the only awkward moment was when a delivery guy came by while I was pretending to be a delivery guy 😬🫥
#ad #sponsored #brandedcontent #swannsecurity #videodoorbell #homesecurity #housenerd #housenerdhome #swannbuddy #perthblog #homesafety #houseblog #entryideas #entryrefresh #perthproperty

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