The Emmy Award–winning CBS News Sunday Morning, hosted by Jane Pauley, returns Sunday, May 17 with its annual design-themed edition. The program airs on CBS at 9:00 a.m. ET and streams on the CBS News app beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Introduction — Philadelphia, a city of history and style
Jane Pauley opens the show in Philadelphia, a city that blends rich history with enduring style. The segment highlights landmarks and cultural touchstones that illustrate a long American quest for better living and beautiful design.
Cover story — ADUs: Finding housing in your backyard
Correspondent Lee Cowan reports on Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): small, self-contained secondary homes built on the same property as a primary residence. As wildfire displacement and high housing costs strain communities in the West, ADUs have emerged as an important, practical response — but not without regulatory and financial hurdles. The piece follows Oregon homeowners who built rental ADUs after losing housing pressure from wildfires and explores the legal, zoning and construction challenges that limit wider adoption. Experts consulted include planners and architecture scholars who study housing policy and backyard building.
History — Ardrossan Mansion: a Gilded Age time capsule
Jane Pauley tours Ardrossan, a 750-acre Georgian-style estate on Philadelphia’s Main Line. The story evokes Gilded Age opulence and preservation, with historical perspective on the mansion and its role in regional history.
Architecture — An adobe renaissance
Correspondent Conor Knighton traces the revival of earth-based building techniques. From ancient mud bricks to modern rammed-earth and 3-D printing hybrids, adobe is enjoying renewed interest among architects, museums and do-it-yourself builders. The piece profiles builders who make bricks from excavated soil and examines how traditional materials are being merged with new technologies and contemporary design.
Fashion — Marimekko’s bold Finnish designs
Seth Doane reports from Finland on Marimekko, the company known for bright, graphic fabrics and home goods. For 75 years Marimekko’s distinctive prints have influenced fashion and interiors worldwide. The segment explores the brand’s enduring aesthetic and influence.
Décor — The glamour of chandeliers
Mo Rocca looks at chandeliers as design statements — how these ornate hanging light fixtures have evolved and why they still command attention in grand and intimate rooms alike.
Triptych highlights from Philadelphia
– The sacred cheesesteak: Susan Spencer visits Pat’s King of Steaks and talks with third-generation owner Frankie Olivieri about the city’s iconic sandwich and its traditions.
– Soft pretzels: A look inside the Center City Soft Pretzel Company and why pretzels remain a Philly institution.
– Making a proper hoagie: Liberty Kitchen executive chef Beau Neidhardt demonstrates how to assemble a classic Philadelphia hoagie.
Fashion feature — Designing the future of Louis Vuitton
Alina Cho interviews Nicolas Ghesquière about shaping Louis Vuitton’s future. The segment previews his latest collection and an upcoming collaboration between Louis Vuitton and the estate of the late artist Keith Haring, and notes the brand’s global influence and recent runway plans.
Architecture spotlight — Frank Furness’s fearless buildings
Robert Costa explores the legacy of Philadelphia architect Frank Furness. Known for bold arches, asymmetry and exuberant decoration, Furness produced roughly 1,000 buildings; his work is receiving renewed attention from critics and preservationists.
Landscaping — Longwood Gardens and Chanticleer
Jim Axelrod profiles Longwood Gardens — the 1,700-acre horticultural oasis created by Pierre S. du Pont — focusing on its beauty, conservation mission and recent expansion. The show also spotlights Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, Pennsylvania, as another prized regional landscape.
Movies — Jon Favreau on The Mandalorian and Grogu
Tracy Smith talks with director Jon Favreau about bringing The Mandalorian and Grogu to the big screen. Favreau discusses the handmade quality of the Star Wars universe, the centrality of family relationships to the saga, and how his improvisational directing roots shaped projects like Iron Man. The film opens in theaters May 22.
History — The world in old maps
Martha Teichner visits the Osher Map Library at the University of Southern Maine to explore half a million rare maps, globes and atlases. The segment shows how cartographers’ choices — from whimsy to politics to intentional distortion — reveal changing views of the world and why maps still matter in the GPS era.
Arts — The art of toppling dominoes
David Pogue profiles domino artist Lily Hevesh, who stages intricate layouts of thousands of dominoes. The story emphasizes the patience, engineering and creative vision behind large-scale domino art and performance.
Web exclusives and archives
– Music: The Library of Congress’s 2026 National Recording Registry includes a diverse set of recordings added for preservation; recent additions have spotlighted contemporary acts alongside historic artists.
– From the archives: A 2018 profile of outspoken film critic Rex Reed is revisited following his recent passing.
– Marathon: A curated collection of co-star reunions and fan-favorite interviews is available in an online marathon, featuring classic Hollywood pairings and conversations.
How to watch and listen
Sunday Morning airs Sundays at 9:00 a.m. ET on CBS and streams on the CBS News app at 11:00 a.m. ET. Full episodes are available on demand via CBS platforms and partner streaming services. The Sunday Morning audio podcast is also downloadable through major podcast platforms.
Stay connected
Sunday Morning maintains social feeds across major platforms and publishes extras and web exclusives on its site. To share sun art or photos for possible inclusion, email [email protected].