Jamie Durie facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jamie Durie OAM
Jamie Durie in 2012
Born	Jamie Paul Durie (1970-06-03) 3 June 1970 (age 55) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation	Landscaper horticulturalist furniture designer television presenter television producer author
Years active	1986−present
Known for	The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie – HGTV (2010–present); House Rules – Seven Network (2019–2020); The Living Room – Network Ten (2015–2018)
Children	3

Jamie Durie (born 3 June 1970) is an Australian expert in gardens and outdoor spaces. He is a well-known horticulturalist (someone who studies and grows plants) and landscape designer. Jamie also designs furniture, hosts TV shows, produces TV shows, and has written many books.

He started his own design companies, PATIO Landscape Architecture and Durie Design. In 2008, he won a Gold Medal at the famous Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show in London for his "Australian Garden" design. Jamie Durie has hosted over 50 design shows around the world.

He hosted the Australian TV show The Outdoor Room on the Seven Network in 2008. He also hosted HGTV Showdown in 2009 and the US PBS series The Victory Garden from 2007 to 2010. This show is one of the longest-running gardening TV series on PBS.

After The Outdoor Room ended in Australia, Jamie took the idea to the American HGTV network. There, it became The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie. He created new outdoor spaces in Southern California, using ideas from gardens all over the world. These designs often used sustainable (eco-friendly) ideas, like plants that need less water.

In November 2024, Jamie's newest show, "Growing Home with Jamie Durie," started on Channel 7. This series shows how he built his family's dream home, which is off-grid and sustainable.

Early Life and First Steps

Jamie Durie was born in Manly, Sydney, New South Wales. He spent his early years in a mining town called Tom Price in Western Australia. His mother and grandmother were from Sri Lanka. His grandmother, Daphne de Zylva, taught him about gardening and cooking. He learned to love Sri Lankan culture from her.

When Jamie was 10, his parents separated. He moved with his mother and brother Chris to the Gold Coast in Queensland. Jamie left high school at 15. He tried cabinetmaking and also modeled beachwear part-time.

Jamie first started in entertainment as a performer in an Australian all-male show called Manpower Australia. For seven years, he traveled internationally with the group. He was a manager and a main performer, doing acrobatics and trapeze acts in places like Las Vegas, NV. He even designed the sets and costumes for the show.

Designing Gardens and Hosting TV Shows

Jamie Durie started his landscape design company, Patio Landscape Architecture and Design, in 1998. In 2002, he also registered JPD Media & Design.

Soon after, he began appearing on Australian reality shows about home improvement. From 2000 to 2005, Jamie was the main host and lead landscaper on the garden makeover show Backyard Blitz on the Nine Network. The show's creator, Don Burke, said Jamie was a "born showman."

Jamie also hosted The Block, a TV renovation show, on the Nine Network. He hosted the first two seasons in 2003 and 2004.

In 2007, Jamie took part in the Australian show Dancing with the Stars. He finished in 7th place. That same year, he hosted Australia's Best Backyards, another garden lifestyle show on the Seven Network.

Jamie credits Oprah Winfrey with helping him start his career in the US. He filmed lifestyle segments with her for the Oprah Winfrey Network (U.S. TV channel). He says she was completely responsible for his career taking off in America.

From 2007 to 2010, Jamie hosted the US PBS series The Victory Garden. This show teaches viewers how to garden and cook. In 2009, he also hosted HGTV Showdown on the HGTV network.

In 2008, Jamie hosted The Outdoor Room on the Seven Network in Australia. The show aimed to "bring the world to your very own backyard."

When The Outdoor Room ended in Australia in 2010, Jamie moved the show's idea to the US. It became The Outdoor Room with Jamie Durie on the HGTV network. He built a new team of designers and plant experts. In this show, Jamie transformed neglected yards in Southern California. He used sustainable ideas like low-water plants and recycled materials to create beautiful outdoor spaces.

Since 2015, Jamie has been a guest expert on the Australian lifestyle show The Living Room on Network Ten. In 2019, he joined the Australian renovation series House Rules on the Seven Network as a new judge.

In August 2022, Jamie was revealed as the "Tiger" contestant on the fourth season of The Masked Singer Australia on Network 10.

In November 2024, Jamie Durie's latest TV show, Growing Home with Jamie Durie, aired on Channel 7. This four-part series follows his three-year journey to design and build a family home that is completely off-grid and self-sufficient. The show highlights innovative design and eco-friendly practices.

Furniture Design and Products

In 2010, Jamie's company Patio Landscape Architecture and Design changed its name to Durie Design. The company focused on creating exciting new outdoor spaces and designing unique furniture.

Jamie has designed furniture for famous Hollywood clients. He created 100 pieces of furniture for comedian Chelsea Handler. He also designed garden landscapes for actress Charlize Theron for two years.

In November 2024, Jamie Durie brought back Patio by Jamie Durie. This is his special brand for outdoor living and lifestyle products. It includes popular vertical garden blankets. The brand aims to make outdoor spaces beautiful, useful, and eco-friendly.

Awards and Recognitions

Jamie Durie's TV show Backyard Blitz won six Logie Awards for "Most Popular Lifestyle Program" from 2001 to 2006. Jamie himself won the "Most Popular New Talent" award in 2001. He was also nominated for "Most Popular Presenter" for his role in Backyard Blitz from 2003 to 2005.

His 2003 book, Patio - Garden Design and Inspiration, was recognized at the APA Book Design Awards in Australia.

In 2008, Jamie won a gold medal at Britain's famous Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Chelsea Flower Show in London. His "Australian Garden" design, which cost AU$800,000 and covered 200 square meters, was built in just 16 days by a team of 22 workers. All the materials for the garden were shipped from Australia.

In 2012, Jamie Durie received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This award recognized his contributions to the environment and his charity work.

In 2013, Jamie started working with the Italian luxury furniture brand Riva 1920. They launched a special collection of five furniture pieces, including the "Tubular" dining table, at the Milan Furniture Fair 2013. The "Tubular" table and chair, along with Jamie's "Bungalow range," were finalists in the New York Design Awards in 2014.

Personal Life and Charity Work

Jamie Durie owns homes in Pittwater, Sydney, Australia, and in Los Angeles. He is not married but has been engaged. He has said that he has always focused a lot on his career, which has sometimes affected his relationships.

Jamie has a grown-up daughter named Taylor from a previous relationship. She lives in Los Angeles. Jamie enjoys camping, surfing, and bike riding with her. He wants to find more balance in his life.

Jamie is currently engaged to Ameka Jane, and they have two children together.

Every year, Jamie Durie gives his time and help to many charities. These include the FSHD Global Research Foundation, the Children's Cancer Institute, and The Children's Hospital at Westmead in Sydney. He has been a strong supporter of Tour de Cure, which raises money for cancer research. In March 2024, Jamie cycled over 1,200 km in one week for the Tour de Cure "Signature Tour" to help raise important funds for cancer research and support in Australia.

Television Shows