A funny thing happened at an evening garden party that took place several years ago along the Shady Side waterfront, known as Gazebo Point. There, while enjoying fine company and admiring an exquisite sunset in the distance, couple Evan Gilligan and Marc Dorman experienced an epiphany. Although they lived just six miles from the spot on which they were standing, neither had ever been to Shady Side, a southern Anne Arundel County peninsula framed by the West River to its west and north, and the vast Chesapeake Bay on its east and south. And they very much liked what they saw.
Prior to that party, Gilligan and Dorman were living in a home they purchased in 2003—a home they wished to expand and renovate, but couldn’t due to the property’s footprint and framing. Thus, they were on a search for either a tear-down or raw lot in Anne Arundel County. They had spent two years looking for the perfect property. That evening at Gazebo Point, the end to this search, could be seen in the same distance as the beautiful sunset they were enjoying.
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“We left that party and realized that we must be in Shady Side,” says Gilligan, a third-generation homebuilder in his early 40s who spent 15 years in the trade before shifting his design acumen to founding a marketing firm. “The open water, wildlife, and killer sunsets were what we had been looking for all along. We then redoubled our efforts to find the perfect location in Shady Side.”
That’s when the couple leaned heavily on Realtor David Orso to sell their home and find the perfect locale. “David was the listing agent for our previous home,” Gilligan says. “It was an unusual home that needed the perfect buyer.” Now, on the hunt, the couple had three prerequisites for their property-to-be: a spot with public sewer,broad west-facing waterfront, and plenty of surface to improve upon.
“The moment we arrived at the property and looked out onto that silvery, rippling water, we knew that this was our forever spot,” Gilligan says. “In the tradition of waterfront houses, we named our future home, Silver Water.”
To achieve Silver Water, however, a 3,600-square foot home already sitting on the property would have to be removed before building anew. No easy task within the Critical Area watershed buffer, in which permits, restrictions, and environmental codes dictate the process. This is when Gilligan’s homebuilding experience shined; his familiarity with both the law and construction practices enabled him to lead the teardown and new build on-site. “I managed the build directly, acting as the general contractor,” he explains. “I was on-site and could hold subcontractors accountable to both the schedule and craftsmanship.”
They broke ground in February of 2017 and just 10 months later, in December, the couple moved into their new home. What they moved into is a spectacularly well-appointed, custom craftsman-style home, for which materials, exterior and interior design, and spatial awareness were planned organically. “Trial and error shaped the house that we inevitably built,” Gilligan says. “Designing and building homes allowed me to pick and choose what elements I would like to see in my own home and what elements were unnecessary. We then started to combine all of the elements and ideas that we had gathered over the years.”
For example, there are nods to the couple’s coastal travels, such as a complicated roof and shingle style that is typical of seaside homes on Cape Cod, where they were married. And, façade spires modeled after the light keeper’s house at Currituck. Other exterior details include a bell-roof modeled after a newel post, black-clad windows, polymer siding, and natural stone that juxtaposes the stark black and white elements. “The house became a blend of buzzards and the Chesapeake Bay,” Gilligan declares with excitement. A tiny 4,500-gallon pool finished in PebbleFina with bluestone coping complements the veranda, protected outdoor kitchen, and patio space, which altogether invite relaxation during the summer months.
Inside the 4,666-square foot, five bedroom, five-and-a-half bath home, thoughtful dimensions help showcase the furniture, art, collections, and décor. There are generous spaces for entertaining as well as intimate, cozy spaces. “We wanted the house to be a blend of classic and clean, and to achieve this, every object needed to have its own space,” Gilligan explains. “We blended classic, coastal, mid-century modern, art deco, and contemporary to result in a warm space heavy in black, white, and gray.” Standout décor includes: American art glass and photography collections; perforated Tom Dixon metal pendants in the master bedroom; Boule cluster in the foyer; and 1920s reproduction milk glass pendants over the kitchen island. In fact, all the lighting fixtures in the house were curated by the couple. And almost every room in the home, except the kitchen, faces the water.
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“The house was meant to be a destination for both Marc and me, as well as our family and friends,” Gilligan says. “Let’s be honest; Shady Side isn’t close to much. So, if our guests make the trip, it better be worth it.”
Come winter, Gilligan most appreciates the kitchen. “Everything is accessible and purposeful,” he says. “We designed the island so that it would use one slab only, allowing there to be no seams. We have drawers for everything we need, including all the small appliances that hog room for preparing meals. It has a keeping room with a fireplace, so that everyone can interact with one another at meal times. It is a wonderful space.”
But for now, during a bluebird day or mid-summer night, it’s the outdoor spaces and the silver water views that the couple enjoy the most. “Relaxing in our plunge pool, watching the U.S. Open, or listening to music with family and friends is the best one could hope for,” Gilligan says.
