Architecture by Tom Parker, PDG|Architects, Construction by Dan Anderson, D. Anderson Construction Company Inc., Interiors by Renee Picotte, Renee and Associates Interior Design, Cabinets by Arlene Williams, Landscape by Andy Barger, AB Landscaping
Some love stories begin in unexpected places. For Dr. Victor Erenberg, a veterinarian born and raised in Los Angeles, and Erin Erenberg, an attorney originally from Ohio, theirs started in a Malibu exam room – with a golden retriever named Abe.
“I met Erin as a client,” Victor said. “She came in with Abe, and we just got along right away.” At the time, he was fulfilling his dream of practicing veterinary medicine in Malibu, a place tied deeply to his family.
After about a year, Erin invited Victor to join her family on Hilton Head Island for Easter. “I’d never even heard of Hilton Head,” Victor admitted. But instead of declining, he booked a red-eye flight, rented a full Easter Bunny costume, and showed up unannounced in the backyard of Erin’s family condo.
“We were in our bathing suits, and this Easter Bunny got way too close,” Erin said. “Then he took the head off, and it was Victor on one knee. It was hilarious – and of course, I said yes.”
That was Easter Sunday 2011.
Victor and Erin Erenberg connect with each other and their dog, Billy, after a long day.
They married the same year on Hilton Head and rented a house in North Forest Beach. “It was so special to have family together on the island,” Erin said. Inspired by the place, they soon bought a tired ’80s beach house nearby, pouring time and money into renovations. It became both a rental and a family escape.
“It let us come back once or twice a year,” Victor said. Meanwhile, in California, they raised three kids in a 100-year-old bungalow in Pacific Palisades. By 2018, space was tight.
“It was a great neighborhood, but we were running out of room,” Victor said. “I thought Hilton Head would be great for the kids – more land, closer to Erin’s family, and a safe, natural environment.”
The move turned out to be timely: Soon after selling their California house, wildfires destroyed thousands of homes, including their former one.
The open concept kitchen invites family members to gather and tell stories of the day’s adventures.
A Community Beyond the Beach
Upon their arrival in Hilton Head, Dr. Victor soon opened Island Holistic Veterinary Clinic and Erin now focuses on her passion of empowering mothers as CEO of the Chamber of Mothers. The family initially lived in their beach house, but something felt missing.
The unique style of Marie Carson, of M. Elle Design, served as inspiration for the Erenberg’s interior architecture and design.
“It’s wonderful living on the beach, but our neighbors were there only a week or two at a time,” Erin said. “We wanted our kids to have a real community, like when I grew up in Ohio and you’d just bike over to find a friend.”
Friends spoke highly of Spanish Wells, known for its winding roads, moss-draped oaks, and welcoming neighbors. When a rare lot opened up, Erin and Victor knew it was right.
The office is a peaceful retreat, bathed in natural light throughout the day.
“We never wanted to sell the beach house,” Erin says. “But this lot was perfect for what we envisioned.”
For years, Erin had curated a folder of inspiration: serene California coastal style, textured natural materials, and timeless details, much of which was a direct result of her friendship with Marie Carson of M. Elle Design in Pacific Palisades. Carson’s unique style served as the core inspiration for the Erenberg’s interior architecture and design.
The main bedroom is warm and inviting, with large wooden beams and minimal decor.
Enter architect W. Thomas Parker Jr., AIA of PDG|architects. His vision aligned perfectly.
“The Erenberg home was conceived as a series of layered spaces that would act as the backdrop for the life of their busy young family,” Parker said. “We wanted this home to have a different kind of ‘wow’ – more of a soft-spoken whisper than a shout – defined by intrigue, authentic materials, comfort, privacy, detail, and craftsmanship.”
The ensuite bath is a showstopper, with the large shower, wrapped in gold accents and subway tile, as the main attraction.
Parker designed the home as interconnected “pavilions,” arranged to create cloistered outdoor rooms and offer privacy on the riverfront lot. The entry features a striking study in contrast: dark, rough re-sawn cedar shingles beside painted white brick, connected by a steel and glass foyer.
“The exterior cladding materials uniquely flow through to the interior and back out to the riverside at this connector,” Parker said. The heavy timber bridge in the foyer was built from pine trees milled directly from the site.
The kitchen, like the rest of the home, is filled with custom, personal, and tactile elements.
“After 40 years of practice on the island, people often ask which house is my favorite design,” Parker said. “It’s like asking a parent to choose a favorite child. This project stands out because of the extraordinary collaborative effort.”
One of the most integral collaborators on that effort was Dan Anderson of D. Anderson Construction Company Inc., the builder who brought the design to life.
The home is situated on a picturesque waterfront lot in Spanish Well, offering nightly sunset views.
“It was really an honor to work with the Erenbergs,” Anderson said. “They’re local now, and they’re both doing great work – Victor is well known in the community, and Erin does wonderful nonprofit work. They have excellent taste, and working with Tom Parker again on this home was something special.”
The home took years to dream, two years to build, and a lifetime to imagine.
Anderson points to several unique features: the painted brick exterior, the steel doors, and the warmth of the oak throughout. “The interior oak work and the reclaimed white oak, solid wood floors – with planks up to 15 inches wide – really set the tone,” he said, crediting Tom Banuch of TimberStone for the high-quality materials. “It all flows together with the environment in a natural way.”
The custom fireplace and minimalist hardscaping around the pool also brought a modern, distinctly Californian touch. “The way the house sits on the Calibogue Sound, the sunsets, the views, and how it’s laid out – it’s incredibly peaceful,” Anderson said. “And it was truly a team effort. My crew, our project manager Luke – the whole team made it possible.”
Bringing the Vision to Life
To round out the vision, Erin worked with interior designer Renée Picotte of Renée and Associates Interior Design. Their shared California roots were key.
“Because they are from California and I was born and raised in California, I completely understood what they meant when they said they wanted a ‘California home,’” Picotte said. “Erin and I clicked right away, and I was able to bring those West Coast elements, like the white oak floors and the painted brick.”
She also helped source hard-to-find details. “Because I’ve been in this business for so long, I was able to find the amazing French tile that Victor wanted in the laundry room and select wonderful furniture and textures that enhance the California aesthetic,” Picotte said. “From the incredible French range to the lighting and layout choices, the Erenbergs had already made great decisions. I was simply able to flesh out their vision so the home became a reflection of them, not me … and that’s what I do.”
The home is filled with custom, personal, and tactile elements. Arabella, the Erenbergs’ daughter, drew her dream room ideas, resulting in a built-in nook accessed by a ladder. Son Beau chose fish wallpaper and filled his space with greenery (and the family fish). George, another son, went modern with a pop of personality: his humorous wallpaper depicts Benjamin Franklin blowing bubble gum.
Victor added must-haves like double washers, dryers, and dishwashers. Erin, who cooks daily, splurged on the 78-inch French range. “People said it would just be pretty to look at,” she said. “But we use it every single day – and often for our kids plus half the neighborhood.”
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Nature Flows In and Out
Landscaping became another artistic and emotional layer. Victor teamed with renowned designer Mary Palmer Dargan and local landscaper Andy Barger of AB Landscaping. Together, they created an allée of loquat trees and planted lemon trees across the front.
“The views from inside are just green, white, and light,” Erin said. “Out back, it’s deep water, boats, oak trees, and of course, our daughter’s giant soccer net.”
They retained usable timber from removed pines, milling it for features like the entry bridge and office. A massive live oak, trucked in from Florida, anchors the circular driveway as a generational centerpiece.
“The way the home fits into its surroundings is really what makes it impressive,” said builder Anderson. “They made an effort to protect and replant trees, and it shows.”
Erin loves the living room. “You see the marble, oak, brick, brass, and the backyard,” she said. “It’s all connected and alive.” She also absolutely loves the plaster walls, hand-worked by Kim Smith and her all-female team. “She nailed the texture and color, and I love that the plaster runs the entire length of the wall,” Erin said. “There are no baseboards, which a really unique feature.”
Victor favors the dining room for its nightly sunset views. “Every night is different,” he said. He also cherishes a corner seat in the pool where he can take in the landscape in quiet peace.
The home also features artwork by Victor’s grandmother (who recently turned 100), family friends, and coastal paintings now even more meaningful after losing family art in the California fires.
“There’s a lot of history here,” Erin says. “And we feel lucky to have preserved it.”
The home took years to dream, two years to build, and a lifetime to imagine. Asked to describe it, Victor replied: “Open, peaceful, dramatic, textured, and warm. It’s dramatic because of the views and weather, peaceful because of the location, textured in every detail, and warm because it’s filled with love.”
From an Easter Bunny proposal to a riverfront home rooted in family and intention, the Erenbergs didn’t just build a house; they built a home that tells their story.
“It’s even better than we imagined,” Erin said. “It’s alive with imperfections, laughter, and life. And that’s what makes it home.”
