Layla Zulfa
Jane Pauley, the veteran broadcast journalist and anchor of CBS Sunday Morning, will host the program’s highly anticipated annual design special on May 17, focusing on the architectural and landscape heritage of Philadelphia. Marking her ninth year at the helm of the "By Design" episode, Pauley provides viewers with an exclusive look behind the "velvet ropes" of some of the nation’s most storied estates. This year’s installment is strategically anchored in Philadelphia to coincide with the early celebrations surrounding the United States’ 250th anniversary, highlighting the city’s pivotal role in American history, culture, and aesthetic evolution.
The special features two primary destinations on Philadelphia’s historic Main Line: Ardrossan and Chanticleer. Ardrossan, a 38,000-square-foot Gilded Age manor, remains a private residence and is famously known as the inspiration for the 1940 classic film The Philadelphia Story. Chanticleer, conversely, represents the pinnacle of American horticulture, functioning as a 48-acre "pleasure garden" that has evolved over a century from a private estate into a public botanical masterpiece. Through these locations, the program examines the intersection of preservation, private life, and public legacy.
The Philadelphia Anchor: Ardrossan and Chanticleer
The selection of Philadelphia as the hub for this year’s design special reflects a broader cultural trend of revisiting the "Gilded Age" and its lasting impact on American urban planning and residential architecture. Ardrossan, designed by Horace Trumbauer for Colonel Robert L. Montgomery in the early 20th century, stands as a rare example of a grand estate that has maintained its integrity as a family home rather than being converted into a museum or institutional space. Its 50 rooms and sprawling acreage serve as a living record of the social and architectural aspirations of the American elite during the industrial boom.
In contrast, Chanticleer offers a study in the transition of private wealth into public utility. Established in 1913 by the Rosengarten family, the estate was transformed into a public garden following the death of its last owner in 1990. The garden is celebrated by designers for its "artistic" approach to planting, where the focus remains on aesthetic pleasure rather than purely botanical classification. By featuring these two distinct locations, CBS Sunday Morning illustrates the diverse ways in which design shapes the American landscape.
A Five-Decade Chronology: The Career of Jane Pauley
Jane Pauley’s role as the curator of this design special is informed by a career in broadcasting that spans over 50 years. Her journey through the American media landscape provides a unique perspective on the evolution of the "home" as both a private sanctuary and a public-facing symbol.
- 1972–1975: Pauley began her career in her native Indiana before moving to Chicago’s WMAQ-TV (Channel 5). At age 24, she became the city’s first female co-anchor on a major evening newscast, a milestone that broke significant gender barriers in the industry.
- 1976–1989: Pauley gained national prominence as the co-host of NBC’s Today Show. During her 13-year tenure, she covered major global events and became one of the most recognizable faces in American news. It was during this era that she was introduced to her husband, Doonesbury cartoonist Garry Trudeau, by fellow journalist Tom Brokaw.
- 1992–2003: She served as the face of Dateline NBC, further solidifying her reputation as a versatile and trusted anchor.
- 2014–Present: After a brief hiatus from full-time anchoring, Pauley joined CBS News. In 2016, she succeeded Charles Osgood as the anchor of CBS Sunday Morning, the top-rated Sunday morning news program in the United States.
Throughout this timeline, Pauley has authored two best-selling books, Skywriting and Your Life Calling, both of which explore the themes of transition, identity, and the importance of place.
The Psychology of Design: "Decoraphobia" and Domestic Negotiation
Behind her professional persona, Pauley has navigated a complex relationship with interior design, a subject she discusses with candor in the lead-up to the May 17 special. She describes a phenomenon she calls "decoraphobia"—the paralysis caused by the weight of making permanent design decisions. Despite her public success, Pauley admits that for years, her family room lacked a sofa because she found the commitment to a specific piece of furniture too daunting.
This personal struggle informs her reporting on the "By Design" special, as she explores how individuals balance aesthetic desire with the practicalities of living. Her 44-year marriage to Garry Trudeau has been characterized by a constant negotiation over their living environment. While Pauley thrives on change and renovation—noting that she once moved a nephew’s furniture during a brief visit to his home—Trudeau is described as a proponent of domestic stasis.
The couple’s history of renovation is marked by both ambition and chaos. Pauley recounts a significant incident where their kitchen ceiling collapsed the night before their 1980 wedding, and another period where their bed remained in the living room for months during a structural overhaul. These anecdotes humanize the high-stakes world of architectural design, suggesting that even the most prestigious homes are subject to the messy realities of life.
Professional Collaboration and the "Celadon" Resolution
The resolution to Pauley’s "decoraphobia" and the couple’s conflicting design philosophies came through a long-term collaboration with interior designer Alan Tanksley. For over two decades, Tanksley has acted as a mediator between Pauley’s desire for evolution and Trudeau’s preference for consistency.
The breakthrough occurred when Pauley identified her visceral dislike for the color terracotta, which had dominated many of their previous design palettes. Tanksley introduced a "celadon" theme—a soft, pale green-grey—that provided the "calming and beautiful" atmosphere Pauley craved while offering the permanence Trudeau required. This professional intervention highlights the role of the designer as not just an aesthetic advisor, but as a domestic strategist who reconciles the psychological needs of the inhabitants.
The Warhol Connection: Art as a Living Legacy
A significant segment of Pauley’s personal design narrative involves her family’s connection to pop art icon Andy Warhol. The story serves as a case study in how personal history and art collection intersect within the home.
In 1974, Trudeau sat for a series of Polaroids at Warhol’s "The Factory" after his mother purchased a portrait sitting at a charity auction. However, Warhol did not complete the work until 1975, coincidentally after Trudeau became the first cartoonist to win a Pulitzer Prize. The sudden completion of the portrait suggests that Warhol’s interest was piqued by Trudeau’s elevated public status.
For years, the two resulting Warhol portraits were kept in a drawer, as Trudeau felt self-conscious about displaying images of himself. It was only later that Pauley intervened to reunite the two paintings and integrate them into their home. This narrative reflects a broader theme in the upcoming "By Design" special: the idea that art and design are not merely for display, but are deeply entwined with the stories and successes of the people who live with them.
Analysis: The Broader Impact of Design Media
The "By Design" special arrives at a time when public interest in architecture and interior design is at an all-time high, driven by the proliferation of social media and home-improvement programming. However, CBS Sunday Morning distinguishes itself by focusing on the historical and sociological implications of design rather than just trends.
By centering the episode in Philadelphia, the program acknowledges the city’s ongoing efforts to revitalize its historical assets ahead of the 2026 Semiquincentennial. The city’s "Main Line," once a series of summer retreats for the wealthy, is now a critical area for architectural preservation. The exposure provided by a national broadcast like CBS Sunday Morning can have significant implications for local tourism and preservation funding.
Furthermore, Pauley’s transition from a hard-news anchor to a cultural curator reflects the changing nature of broadcast journalism. Viewers today seek anchors who can bridge the gap between reporting facts and exploring the "art of living." Pauley’s willingness to share her personal design failures and successes creates a rapport with an audience that views their own homes as works in progress.
As the May 17 episode airs, it will likely serve as both a tribute to Philadelphia’s past and a reflection on the universal human desire to create a space that feels like "home." Through the lens of Jane Pauley, design is presented not as a luxury, but as an essential, if sometimes chaotic, part of the American experience.
