Jamie Durie 'I'M A BETTER DAD NOW'

After years on the road, the famous landscaper is back home to watch his garden grow with his new family

- Wade Sellers

Beautiful chaos is the term Jamie Durie uses to describe his new life with a baby back home in Australia.

"A lot is going on, but life is amazing. I've never been happier," he tells Woman's Day from his Sydney property.

On top of his numerous TV projects and product lines, a mammoth build of a new "environmentally sophisticated" home in the city's Northern Beaches and running his international design business, Jamie, 52, has also become a dad for the second time. Fiancee Ameka Jane gave birth to daughter Beau in July last year.

"I'm a dad again! I always knew I'd have more kids, I guess it just needed to happen with the right person," he admits.

Talking of fatherhood in his 50s, Jamie admits that he's now in a better position to raise 10-month-old Beau after becoming a young dad to daughter Taylor at just 23.

"I had a suitcase in one hand and a baby in the other," he says of that time, which occurred while he was touring with Australian dance troupe Manpower. "It was just absolute craziness. So at this point in my life, I think I'm probably a better dad now than the first time around.

"Taylor's still my number one girl, but being able to be home now and spend quality time with Beau created a bond that's like nothing I've felt before."

FAMILY FIRST

Usually dividing his time between Australia and Los Angeles, Jamie admits that his newborn has made him re-evaluate his work-life balance, and despite boasting an enviable résumé - which includes more than 18 shows in the US and a five-year contract with Oprah Winfrey back in 2008 it's his new "tight-knit" family back home that's given him the most nourishment.