Jane Pauley's Enduring Journey Through Broadcasting and Home Design
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.