Cougar’s Crag – Extreme B&B, South Coast, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Finding the right name was easy - we are located on a rocky outcrop, or crag, and, according to recent research, the southern portion of Vancouver Island is home to the largest population of cougars in North America; hence, Cougar’s Crag.
To match our unique EXTREME B&B philosophy and trademark, we knew we needed to make the physical site and building something special -- a place that would attract the right people and be a cut above other types of accommodation.
The building design is based on a simple octagon, a style used by a very few architects of the Victorian period who were searching for a more efficient use of space and resources.
From this eight-sided main structure, we extended off one side to incorporate guest lodging and an office, giving the front view of the structure a lodge like appearance. Another extension was added at the rear of the house -- this provided ample space for a great room with its 12 ton granite fireplace, a dining room and sun parlour, and huge outside deck that abuts on a massive boulder that overlooks the rest of our 14.75 cares, Matheson Lake Park, the Juan de Fuca Strait and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State.
We chose a post and beam structure. West Coast Log Homes, located on BC’s Sunshine Coast, provided the log package, which is the first of its kind on Vancouver Island. Their Old World-quality craftsmanship transforms BC red cedar timber into spectacular structures while maintaining the natural look and feel of the original logs.
Second Nature Designs had the daunting task of developing an architectural design that suited our needs -- to come up with a period look while keeping an open concept feel to the house, all the time keeping to code and practicality in the design.
Saamoa Holdings, Ltd., a long established local Metchosin builder with an excellent reputation, began the task of finding and managing the trades that would transform our secluded hilltop into Cougar’s Crag Extreme B&B.
For our part, once we decided on an Arts & Crafts Movement style as the basic decorating theme, we rooted through hundreds furniture, lighting, fixture, and cabinetry stores, websites and magazines for two and a half years to find the right suppliers needed to create the perfect look -- even the wallpaper had to reflect the local flora. From the stamped tin ceilings to the doorknobs, Cougar’s Crag will offer an upscale retreat to those that come to experience the REAL Vancouver Island, muddy boots and all.