A dramatic Bear Mountain estate gives one family the space to blend.

BY DANIELLE POPE | PHOTOS BY SERGIO PETRACCONE (unless otherwise noted)
Lewis Ratcliff considers himself an expert on all things Bear Mountain — especially when it comes to real estate. So, when a lot came available with a full ocean view and south-facing light, he knew this was the moment to build his family their own dream home.
“We’ve lived on Bear Mountain for about 10 years and discussed building, but rarely do lots this good come up,” he says. “It’s never the perfect time to do it, but it was as good a time as any to bite the bullet and go.”
The choice would win Ratcliff, Realtor with Engel & Völkers Ratcliff Group, a three-minute commute to his office, unobstructed views of the ocean, mountains and Malahat — and significantly more space for his blended family, which includes two teens and a preschooler. The family transitioned from their 3,800-square-foot home to a fully customized three-floor, six-bedroom, six-bathroom, 5,500-square-foot estate, complete with an additional 500-square-foot garage and secondary suite.

Award-winning Design
“We loved our old home and it worked well for us at the time, but we knew we needed something we could all grow into,” says Amy Ratcliff, who helped design the home. “We also knew we would have to mix Lewis’s and my design preferences together. Lewis prefers modern and I like more traditional designs, so we struck a balance.”
The family drafted in the help of designer Sam Scott, along with LIDA Construction and Munro Engineering, to forge into reality a cliffside luxury villa that aligned with the Bear Mountain community while standing out the way the Ratcliffs wanted. Due to the complexities — and successes — of this geotechnical build, the home has won awards at the local and provincial levels, including project of the year in the 2023 CHBA Vancouver Island Building Excellence Awards, and has been nominated for national awards.

“The end product was very successful, and it came with challenges: This was a home built on the side of a mountain and, at the time we built this house, we were facing massive supply-chain issues around ordering materials,” says Dave Stephens, principal and president of LIDA Construction. “Our clients make the final decision as to what they want in their house, but we are here to be consultants and guide that experience until we get to construction.”
The transitional design of this home exudes elegance, with soaring cedar ceilings, a concrete feature fireplace, butler pantry, clean lines and arched doorways that carry a flow throughout the home’s levels. With five people living there, plus each person’s array of friends, extended family visits and plans to entertain, this house had to accommodate a dynamic set of needs.
“This home came with a big wish list, but most of all a desire to emphasize family — from open spaces where everyone could connect to the playroom for their youngest daughter and even space for the kids to do homework while people are in the kitchen,” says designer Sam Scott, who, at the time of this build, was the West Coast representative with Boss Design and now heads Sam Scott Interior Design Studio. “That was a theme we continued throughout the house.”




Scott says the family wanted to give the older kids a place they could escape to when needed, complete with a private kitchenette/bar, living and laundry area, entertainment media space, private bathroom and patio retreat. The Ratcliffs also needed a space their four year old wouldn’t grow out of soon, so her bedroom came complete with an ensuite and a designated playroom. A special sleepover bunk room can generously sleep four friends.
“We wanted to make a place where people would love being home together, and still have the space they need, so that meant making room for sleepovers and giving everyone room to hang out,” says Amy, who manages the Ratcliff Group team. “Being in real estate, we understand the layout might not work for every family, but we built this home for us.”

At One with Nature
To keep street cohesion, the family had to adhere to certain Bear Mountain guidelines. For instance, they had to use all-real materials on the exterior, and the natural stone cladding on the front of the house upped costs and engineering calculations. While almost nothing was sacrificed, even with supply-chain issues, the family did compromise on expanding the backyard, which, given its cliffside location, would have added a significant cost.

Lewis himself grew up in Victoria, but has found the Bear Mountain atmosphere idyllic. He’s also seen the demographic shift in the time he’s lived there, and firmly believes it’s the place to be.
“Once we got out here, we knew we were never going to leave Bear Mountain. You can get downtown in 20 minutes; you’re surrounded by golf courses and mountains. We love it,” he says. “When we first moved here, there were a lot of young families moving in. Now, you’re seeing more people coming here to semi-retire, play golf, slow down — your neighbours are a nice mix of people.”
Project Support
Designer: Boss Design
Interior designer: Sam Scott; LIDA Construction interior design team; client
Builder: LIDA Construction
Engineering: Munro Engineering
Plumbing fixtures: The Ensuite Bath & Kitchen Showroom
Cabinets: Thomas Philips Woodworking
Doors, hardware and windows: Slegg Building Materials
Millwork: Amberwood Floors and Fine Finishing
Tile, stairs and flooring: Hourigan’s Flooring
Countertops: Colonial Countertops
Light fixtures: McLaren Lighting
Stair Railing: Quality Aluminum Railings
Fireplace: Heat Savers Home Comfort
Exterior Finishing: Vic City Exteriors, Stonecrest Masonry
Roofing: Perrier Roofing