Architectural Cases

Jane Pauley, a prominent figure in broadcasting for over five decades, shares insights into her enduring career and personal design philosophy. Known for her role on CBS Sunday Morning's annual design episode, Pauley discusses her experiences visiting remarkable design destinations like Ardrossan and Chanticleer. Her journey through numerous home renovations, navigating design decisions with her husband, cartoonist Garry Trudeau, and even discovering hidden Andy Warhol paintings, reveals a deep connection to the concept of home and its ever-evolving nature.

Pauley's career as a broadcaster spans over fifty years, beginning with her co-hosting role on the Today Show for thirteen years, followed by her current position as a contributing anchor at CBS News since 2014. Despite her demanding professional life, she has always maintained a passion for transforming living spaces. Her early fascination with home design was ignited at age 13 when her parents purchased a model house, allowing her to envision rooms from stakes and strings, a process she continues to cherish.

Her personal life, intertwined with that of her husband, Garry Trudeau, has seen numerous ambitious renovation projects. Their ability to live through significant home disruptions, even a collapsed kitchen ceiling before their wedding, speaks to their adaptability. Pauley, despite admitting to a 'decoraphobia'—a hesitation to commit to major design decisions—possesses an intuitive understanding of space, light, and layout. She recounts a humorous anecdote of rearranging her nephew's living room furniture before catching a cab, leaving a lasting impression with her immediate grasp of improved aesthetics.

Her approach to interiors has evolved through the years. Initially, her fear of making permanent design choices led to prolonged indecision, such as an empty space where a sofa should have been in her family room. A long-standing, often subconscious battle with the color terracotta also shaped her design journey. She describes how, for years, she unknowingly gravitated towards terracotta hues in her design proposals, only to find herself dissatisfied. This unconscious pattern highlighted the subtle yet powerful influence of color on personal comfort and aesthetic preference.

The turning point arrived when they collaborated with designer Alan Tanksley, who introduced them to a celadon palette. This shift brought a sense of calm and beauty to their home, establishing a harmonious environment that has lasted over two decades. Pauley emphasizes the importance of a designer who can successfully merge different tastes, as Tanksley did for her and Trudeau, respecting their individual preferences while creating a unified vision. While Trudeau prefers stability in their home's arrangements, Pauley's desire for change has led to a playful negotiation over even small items, like a candlestick holder, which inevitably finds its way back to its original spot.

Pauley's early home, a Chicago apartment furnished during her first major broadcasting role, reflected her budding design sensibilities. Inspired by Mary Richards's apartment from The Mary Tyler Moore Show, she personally crafted and reupholstered furniture, showcasing a hands-on approach to creating a welcoming space. Her prized possessions included a Sony Trinitron color TV and a burled wood highboy, elements that spoke to her appreciation for both modern technology and classic design. Later, moving to New York, she benefited from the sophisticated influence of Tom Brokaw and his wife, Meredith. Beyond her home, Pauley also enjoys watercolor painting, though she humbly keeps her artwork private, recognizing that her children might one day wonder what to do with 'Mom's paintings.'

The Pauley-Trudeau household also boasts a unique art collection, including five paintings by the 19th-century German-American artist Gaugengigl, a testament to Garry's keen eye for art. A particularly fascinating story involves two Andy Warhol portraits of Garry. Acquired through a charity auction and a subsequent sitting at The Factory in 1974, the paintings' completion was famously expedited after Trudeau won a Pulitzer Prize, leading to his work being featured on the cover of Time magazine. Initially, only one portrait was chosen, but years later, Pauley orchestrated the reunion of the second portrait, acquiring it through the Warhol Foundation as a Christmas gift. Despite their artistic value, these valuable pieces spent years tucked away in a drawer due to Trudeau's modesty, highlighting a charming interplay between personal preference and artistic significance within their home.

Ultimately, Jane Pauley's journey, both in her career and personal life, underscores the profound connection between an individual and their living space. Her story illustrates how homes are not merely structures, but evolving reflections of personal tastes, relationships, and life experiences, often shaped by conscious choices and serendipitous discoveries.

This photographic journey celebrates the enduring legacy of entertainment icon Cher, offering an intimate look into her private residences and personal life across seven decades. From her humble beginnings to her rise as a global superstar, the article showcases how her distinct personality and artistic vision are reflected in the diverse architectural and interior styles of her various homes. It highlights her remarkable ability to continuously reinvent herself, both professionally and domestically, emphasizing her belief that one should never be confined to a single identity. This retrospective serves as a tribute to her multifaceted career and her enduring influence on popular culture and design, capturing the essence of a star who consistently defied expectations.

A Detailed Look into Cher's Domestic Evolution

Born Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPiere in 1946 in El Centro, California, Cher’s early life was marked by adversity, yet she defied all odds to achieve unparalleled stardom. Her journey into the limelight began in the 1960s alongside her then-husband and manager, Salvatore “Sonny” Bono. The duo, famously known as Sonny & Cher, achieved widespread acclaim, notably with their 1965 chart-topping hit “I Got You Babe,” a track later celebrated by Rolling Stone as one of the greatest songs of all time. Their early home in Encino, a modest single-level dwelling, was the backdrop for much of their burgeoning success. Bono even drew inspiration from its San Fernando Valley views for some of their greatest hits. This property, spanning 3,250 square feet with three bedrooms and an outdoor pool, reflected Cher’s eclectic bohemian style, featuring shag carpets and elaborate fringe curtains. The couple, often seen by neighbors like Dennis James and Bobby Sherman, embraced a vibrant community life.

Despite their fame, the duo faced financial struggles, leading to the sale of their Encino home’s furnishings. By 1968, their music style clashed with the rising psychedelic rock scene, impacting album sales. However, Bono’s foresight during this difficult period proved pivotal; he predicted Cher’s future solo success, which materialized with hits like “Believe” and “If I Could Turn Back Time.”

In 1967, following their initial success, Cher and Sonny acquired a lavish Moorish-style mansion in Bel-Air from actor Tony Curtis for $250,000. This 34-room estate on Cloud Road boasted a wood-paneled library and an outdoor swimming pool, marking a significant upgrade from their previous residence. Here, Cher cultivated a more traditional aesthetic, moving away from her bohemian roots. This home became a celebrity hub, hosting parties attended by figures such as Twiggy and Steve McQueen.

Cher’s personal life saw major shifts, including the birth of her son, Chaz Bono, in 1969. Her memoir, “Cher: The Memoir, Part One,” candidly describes the emotional turmoil and financial challenges of this period, including her struggle with a hemorrhage post-childbirth. The couple's relationship deteriorated, complicated by an affair Cher had with their guitarist, Bill Hamm. Despite their divorce in 1974, they continued to live in separate wings of their Holmby Hills home due to contractual obligations for their hit variety show, “The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour,” which debuted in 1971 and captivated over 30 million viewers. This mansion, the Owlwood Estate, was a grand 12,200-square-foot property with nine bedrooms and ten bathrooms, purchased from Curtis in 1974 for $750,000. Cher meticulously decorated it, even sending her decorator to Europe for Louis XIV furniture. However, later owners, Ralph and Chase Mishkin, found her decor "unattractive," describing walls covered in "a thousand yards of fabric."

After her divorce, Cher achieved solo superstardom, winning a Golden Globe for her work on their variety show. She married Gregg Allman of The Allman Brothers Band in 1977, with whom she had another son, Elijah Blue Allman. Her Beverly Hills mansion, dubbed the “Egyptian fortress” due to its opulent decor, was a 20,000-square-foot estate featuring brick accent walls, wood-beamed ceilings, a Moroccan-style guesthouse, stables, riding rings, and a tennis court. Though she harbored a deep emotional connection to this home, she sold it in the 1980s to Eddie Murphy, feeling it had become "too comfortable" and she no longer enjoyed city life. In 2010, Cher, a passionate advocate for interior design, revealed her Los Angeles home—a 4,000-square-foot, two-story mansion with a neutral palette and Buddhist influences. This home, which she reimagined into an open, loft-like space, was eventually sold in 2020. Currently, Cher, who celebrated her 80th birthday on May 20, 2026, resides in Malibu, continuing to live a life marked by reinvention and artistic expression.

Cher's journey, from her humble origins to her status as an international icon, is a powerful testament to resilience and continuous self-reinvention. Her evolving domestic spaces offer a unique lens through which to appreciate her personal growth and professional transformation. It highlights that true stardom transcends public image, deeply rooted in one's private world and the courage to redefine oneself repeatedly. Her story inspires individuals to embrace change and to view their living environments as extensions of their evolving identities, rather than static reflections of who they once were.