Preserving the spirit of the Rouse house
to say I should have known better.” He requested that they sign off retroactively on the color change to bring the property into compliance, which they did.
When the present-day owners were ready to make an offer on the property, Bazell’s two daughters, who were 13 and 17 at the time, wrote the seller a note detailing how much they loved the house and promising to never change the color of the doors.
Though Jim Rouse died in April 1996, Patty Rouse continued to live in the home until 2009, when she moved to Vantage House, a high-rise retirement community with views of Wilde Lake from its upper floors.
She didn’t want the house to be sold while she was alive, so it remained unoccupied and wasn’t put on the market until after her death in March 2012.
Photographs in the Columbia Archives of a smiling Rouse taking advantage of lakefront living and entertaining family and friends attest to the couple’s happiness in the home.
In a personal photo album in the Columbia Archives that Patty Rouse titled “Happy Times at Waterfowl Terrace,” Rouse can be seen fishing from the small dock in waders and sitting on a tree swing near the lake in a short-sleeve shirt and plaid pants. He is grinning widely in both shots.
The girls’ letter, it was later revealed, hit a sentimental chord that clinched the deal with Rouse’s stepdaughter, who administered her mother’s estate, Bazell says.
As if lake views from every room weren’t enough reason for choosing the house, Gallagher describes the thrill of watching a half-dozen bald eagles fly over the water. “They call out in this beautiful voice, and you can see them fishing in the lake,” she says.
Great blue herons frequently survey their surroundings from the water’s edge, and geese and other waterfowl abound.
The owners love that they can get their kayaks from the home’s lower level and walk out a back door to launch them.
One of Bazell’s daughters used to paddle out to the middle of the lake and do her homework.
Beyond its waterfront setting, the home’s many features appeal to Gallagher.
She fell in love with the clay tiles emblazoned with cattails that embellish the living room fireplace surround, saying, “They really called my name.”
The row of clerestory windows at the roof ’s peak, which allows even more natural light into the living-dining area, was an architectural bonus. And she saw potential in the U-shaped kitchen, which the couple ended up gutting.
After doing all the kitchen demolition themselves, they hired contractors to replace the vinyl flooring with cork and to install cherry Shaker-style cabinets and earthy-green granite countertops. They reconfigured the layout of the cabinets to an L-shape and placed the sink in a perpendicular island that faces the lake, making dishwashing and meal preparation more enjoyable.
Throughout much of the home, worn carpeting was ripped out and area rugs installed over the original oak flooring, which was refinished. The couple also modernized the two bathrooms on the first floor.
Gallagher’s eye for design is showcased in the salmon-colored sofa and loveseat she chose for the living room for their low profile, which doesn’t obstruct lake views. A jute rug keeps the look clean and classic.
A midcentury teak dining-room table with eight chairs that Bazell got from a family member is complemented by a refurbished 1970s-era teak wall unit the couple purchased specifically to fit the space.
Plans include replacing the deck that spans the length of the house and exchanging wood railings for cables to lessen obstruction of the lake view.
Gallagher has added small decorating touches to the home to honor Rouse’s role as Columbia’s founder, such as the two framed prints in the foyer — one for Columbia and one for Wilde Lake. The originals were created decades ago by Gail Holliday, who served as an artist-inresidence under Rouse and designed different graphic images for Columbia villages and neighborhoods.
The new owners say they imagine the Rouses would have liked what they’ve done to honor the spirit of the house. Sometimes, they wonder if Columbia’s founder might be signaling his approval.
“We hear creaks moving across the living room ceiling, almost like there’s someone walking around up there,” Bazell says.
Since the noise has been occurring almost daily since they moved in, the couple isn’t worried that it might be caused by a structural problem.
“We like to say it’s the ghost of Jim Rouse,” Bazell says with a laugh. “I’ve joked that maybe we could charge admission for people to come and listen to it.”