The annual design episode of CBS Sunday Morning, a staple of American weekend television, finds its latest inspiration in the architectural and horticultural heritage of Philadelphia. Hosted by veteran broadcaster Jane Pauley, the special edition, titled "By Design," offers viewers an exclusive look behind the "velvet ropes" of some of the nation’s most storied properties. Scheduled to air on May 17, the program is strategically anchored in the City of Brotherly Love to coincide with the preliminary celebrations of the United States’ 250th anniversary. Among the featured locations are Ardrossan, a monumental Gilded Age estate, and Chanticleer, a world-renowned botanical garden. Beyond the grand facades, the episode also provides a rare glimpse into Pauley’s personal relationship with design, a subject she has navigated through five decades in the public eye.
Architectural Heritage and the Philadelphia Landscape
The centerpiece of this year’s design special is Ardrossan, a 38,000-square-foot mansion located on Philadelphia’s prestigious Main Line. Built in the early 20th century for Colonel Robert Leaming Montgomery and his wife, Charlotte Hope Binney Tyler, the estate remains one of the few Gilded Age manor houses in the United States that is still utilized as a private residence. Designed by the acclaimed architect Horace Trumbauer, the 50-room Georgian Revival masterpiece served as the real-life inspiration for Philip Barry’s play The Philadelphia Story, which was later adapted into the 1940 cinematic classic starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart.
The inclusion of Ardrossan in the CBS special highlights the tension between historical preservation and modern living. While many estates of its scale have been converted into museums or subdivided for development, Ardrossan’s persistence as a family home offers a unique case study in architectural continuity.
Contrasting the limestone grandeur of Ardrossan is Chanticleer, a 48-acre "pleasure garden" in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Established a century ago by the Rosengarten family, Chanticleer has evolved from a private country retreat into one of the most imaginative public gardens in America. Unlike traditional botanical gardens focused strictly on scientific categorization, Chanticleer is celebrated for its residential scale and artistic approach to landscaping. The "By Design" episode explores how these spaces—one built of stone and the other of flora—contribute to the cultural identity of a region that served as the crucible of American democracy.
A Career Defined by Evolution and Stability
Jane Pauley’s role as the host of the "By Design" special marks her ninth year leading the annual episode, but her presence in American households spans more than 50 years. Her career trajectory serves as a timeline for the evolution of broadcast journalism. In 1975, at the age of 24, Pauley became the first woman to co-anchor a major evening newscast in Chicago at WMAQ-TV (Channel 5). Her rapid ascent led her to the Today Show in 1976, where she spent 13 years defining the morning news format alongside colleagues such as Tom Brokaw and Bryant Gumbel.
After a successful tenure at Dateline NBC, Pauley joined CBS News in 2014 and succeeded Charles Osgood as the anchor of CBS Sunday Morning in 2016. Her longevity in a volatile industry is often attributed to her perceived authenticity—a quality she brings to her discussions on home and design. Despite her professional poise, Pauley admits to a personal struggle she terms "decoraphobia," a hesitation to make permanent aesthetic decisions in her own living spaces.
The Domestic Sphere: Renovations and "Decoraphobia"
Behind the polished exterior of a network anchor is a woman who has spent decades negotiating the complexities of domestic life with her husband, Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau. Married since 1980, the couple has raised three children while navigating the logistical chaos of multiple home renovations. Pauley’s anecdotes from these periods offer a relatable counterpoint to the perfection often showcased in design television. She recounts living in a state of perpetual construction, where a kitchen ceiling once collapsed the night before her wedding and her bed remained in the living room for months during an extended remodel.
Pauley’s design philosophy is rooted in a childhood fascination with "ideating" spaces. She recalls visiting the construction site of her parents’ model home as a teenager, imagining the life that would take place within the staked-out rooms. This early interest developed into a keen sensitivity to space, light, and layout. However, the pressure of making the "right" choice often led to indecision. She famously spent years without a sofa in her family room because the commitment to a specific piece of furniture felt overwhelming.
The anchor also describes a long-standing aesthetic negotiation with Trudeau. While Pauley embraces change, Trudeau favors consistency. This dynamic is perhaps best illustrated by their "war" over a candlestick holder; Pauley may move it to refresh a room, but Trudeau invariably returns it to its original position within a week. Their compromise was eventually found through the intervention of interior designer Alan Tanksley, who helped them move away from a "terracotta" palette—which Pauley realized she disliked—toward a calming "celadon" theme that has remained the foundation of their home for over two decades.
Art, Legacy, and the Warhol Connection
The "By Design" special also touches upon the personal collections that define a home’s character. For Pauley and Trudeau, this includes a significant collection of cartoon art and 19th-century paintings by German-American artist Ignaz Marcel Gaugengigl. However, the most compelling story involves a pair of portraits by the pop art icon Andy Warhol.
In 1974, Trudeau sat for a series of Polaroids at Warhol’s "Factory" after his mother purchased a sitting at a charity auction. The resulting portraits remained in limbo until Trudeau won a Pulitzer Prize in 1975, becoming the first comic strip artist to receive the honor. Suddenly, the artwork was completed. Initially, only one portrait was acquired, but years later, Pauley tracked down the second through the Warhol Foundation to reunite the pair as a Christmas gift. For years, the Warhols remained tucked away in a drawer—a testament to Trudeau’s modesty—before finally finding a place on the walls of their home.
Pauley’s own artistic pursuits are more private. A watercolorist, she keeps her paintings under her bed and intentionally leaves them unsigned. Her reasoning is both humorous and practical: by not signing them, she believes her children will find it easier to discard them after she is gone, sparing them the guilt of throwing away "Mom’s art."
Chronology of Jane Pauley’s Major Career and Design Milestones
- 1950: Born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- 1963: Experiences her first "design" influence when her parents purchase a model home.
- 1972: Graduates from Indiana University and begins her broadcasting career in Indianapolis.
- 1975: Moves to Chicago; becomes the first female co-anchor of a major evening news program.
- 1976: Joins NBC’s Today Show as co-host.
- 1980: Marries Garry Trudeau; the couple begins their first major home renovations in New York.
- 1989: Departs the Today Show after 13 years.
- 1992–2003: Co-anchors Dateline NBC.
- 2004: Publishes her memoir, Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue.
- 2014: Joins CBS News as a contributing anchor.
- 2016: Named anchor of CBS Sunday Morning.
- 2024: Hosts the 9th annual "By Design" special, focusing on Philadelphia’s 250th-anniversary preparations.
Supporting Data and Broader Implications
The focus on Philadelphia in this year’s design special is not incidental. As the city prepares for the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, there is a renewed national interest in the preservation of American heritage. According to data from the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, heritage tourism accounts for a significant portion of the region’s $7.6 billion annual tourism impact. Programs like CBS Sunday Morning play a crucial role in driving this "cultural tourism" by highlighting historical landmarks to a national audience.
Furthermore, the "By Design" episode addresses a growing trend in the architectural world: the adaptive reuse and preservation of Gilded Age properties. Of the thousands of grand estates built between 1870 and 1930, it is estimated that less than 15% remain as private residences. The documentation of Ardrossan provides a rare record of a disappearing lifestyle and architectural standard.
The episode also underscores the psychological importance of the "home" in a post-pandemic world. Industry reports from the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) indicate that since 2020, there has been a 40% increase in residential renovation spending, as Americans seek to optimize their living spaces for both comfort and multi-functional use. Pauley’s discussion of "decoraphobia" and the "power of design to make you feel welcome" resonates with a public that is more invested in their domestic environments than ever before.
Conclusion: The Narrative of Space
As CBS Sunday Morning continues to bridge the gap between high art and everyday life, the "By Design" special serves as a reminder that architecture is more than just shelter; it is a narrative of history and personal identity. Through the lens of Philadelphia’s grand estates and Jane Pauley’s own domestic journey, the program illustrates that whether it is a 38,000-square-foot mansion or a carefully reupholstered sofa, the spaces we inhabit are the backdrops of our lives. As the United States looks toward its 250th anniversary, the preservation of these design stories remains a vital part of the national conversation.
