The number one Costa Rica real estate investment podcast bringing you experts from all over Costa Rica. Good morning guys and welcome to episode 277 of Costa Rica real estate and investments with me or host Richard Bex and happy holidays to everybody that’s out there. I think we’re recording this one on December 24th.
Sorry I’ve been a little erratic with the release of these guys. We’ve just been very busy delivering some some of our own villas in our their own developments in Aranel and Mammal Antonio. So they were all delivered on time which was very, very good.
We had clients one arriving December 18th, the other arriving December 19th. So both villas were there. If anyone’s interested in in seeing what we were up to, I’ll put the links down in the description down below for the Mammal Antonio Treehouse Villas and also via Zana doing Aranel.
This coming year we’ve got some interesting projects coming up, a bigger development in Aranel. I’m also looking at another location as well. I’m actually going to visit in January to take a look at some land there in order to build more of these kind of boutique developments throughout Costa Rica.
I always say that Costa Rica was built on its boutique kind of more Puerto Vida nature and I think we’re moving away from that with these larger developments in hotels. So I’m trying to build basically the boutique hotel again where today the numbers don’t work but they do work when they are villas kind of villa developments with individual owners and investors. So if anyone’s interested in getting involved, you can email us info at investingcosterica.com.
That’s info at investingcosterica.com. That email actually comes to me guys. So anything you need or any questions that you have in Costa Rica, we’re more than happy to help guys.
You can just email us and all the contact details are in the description down below. Today, guys, on today’s podcast, we’re going to be talking with Sadie Flodders. She’s the owner of Sadie Flodders Interior Design, works all over Costa Rica.
We’ve worked with her on many projects. She grew up in Belgium, moved to Costa Rica in her teenage years. It’s worked in New York for form Galli materials, which is a prestigious interior design firm and now works basically for herself here in Costa Rica.
So today we’re going to be talking to her about all of her knowledge. When it comes to basically designing a home in Costa Rica, when to get involved, how much it costs and really understanding where to spend money and where not to. So again, yeah, we’ll be chatting with her.
But yeah, let’s get straight into the podcast. Good morning, Sadie. How are you doing?
Sarahy Flores
Good morning. Very good. And good.
Richard Bexon
It’s weird to be doing a podcast with you. I know we spend quite a bit of time together on our projects and client projects together. So it’s great to get you here on the podcast and chat about interior design.
Sarahy Flores
Thank you.
Richard Bexon
I don’t know. Well, Sadie, the first thing I always like to get an idea of is what’s happening in the market out there. There’s been a lot of volatility in Western markets.
I don’t think that’s changing anytime soon. But what are you seeing happening here in Costa Rica?
Market shifts and investor mindset
Sarahy Flores
Well, I feel like Costa Rica behaves a little bit differently than Western markets. People come here with long-term goals, rental properties, lifestyle. They’re not buying paper assets.
So I feel like anything that any volatility that happens externally actually brings people here rather than pushing away from it. So it’s a little bit more stable because of those long-term investments that people make.
Richard Bexon
How would you describe this year with regards to the volume of inquiries for your work compared to previous years?
Sarahy Flores
I think there’s been a lot more intentional design or people looking to build it more intentionally. I think there was a trend going that let’s just build anything, put anything in it and it will rent. I think that’s changing.
I think people are making better decisions, maybe looking at the market a little bit more. There’s just a lot more intentional thought behind the process and they’re just not building anything.
Richard Bexon
Yeah. So there are a lot less drunk, as I like to say. I mean, we’ve basically come off the hangover of the post-pandemic.
Sarahy Flores
100%. I think just building whatever in bulk is never the solution and it shows.
Richard Bexon
What do you think 2026 holds? What does your crystal wool today?
Sarahy Flores
I think more of that same intentional design. I think people are really doing their research, really looking at who’s actually using their space, especially for rental properties. I think market research is so important right now and that’s something that I do and I think everyone should do.
I think just little by little people are just building really more to the place that they’re in. Not just okay, let’s build a vacation home and make it look pretty, but really it can be actually made this last and to be a successful endeavor. So I feel like it’s changing a little bit and there’s more thought put into design.
Slowly but surely, the benefits of that are being seen. So there’s a lot more of that happening.
Post-pandemic capital and pacing
Richard Bexon
But do you think that’s just because people aren’t in such a rush to spend money and get stuff done and now it’s a little bit like, again, as I said, I think the US printed, I can’t remember, it was like 23% of all cash in circulation post-pandemic. So it flooded the market with all this cash. Now, I was like to say that the government and companies did the rake and pulled it all kind of back in within taxes and stuff.
So everybody’s, I wouldn’t say, yeah, I mean, I think you’ve used it a little bit more intentional with the money that they’ve got and what they’re going to do with it. So aren’t in that much of a rush, if that makes sense.
Sarahy Flores
Exactly. And quality takes time. So I think it’s important for people to know that and also things take time in Costa Rica.
We try to do our best, but how it goes. So I think if it’s about quality, not quantity and speed, then you’ll have a better outcome. And I think that’s where the trend is heading.
Designers, architects and timing
Richard Bexon
I mean, what’s the most common disconnect do you think between interior designers, architects and builders?
Sarahy Flores
Timing 100%. I think designers are brought on too late in the process.
Richard Bexon
I agree.
Sarahy Flores
I think if you bring a designer in right from the start and when say from the start, it’s from the very first plans that the architect draws. There’s so many things that can be incorporated, that can be avoided in mistakes in lighting. Just simple things that an interior design will spot right away functionality wise, but also design wise.
And just because we think about the very last stage, we don’t see, you know, a home as this 3D object. Now we immediately think about how you will function in that space, circulation, like I said, lighting, anything like that. There’s so many things that can be avoided and that will eventually save you a lot than the line.
Richard Bexon
Well, and the thing is, there’s no difference whether you bring me when you bring the interior designer in right at the beginning or the end, the price is the same.
Sarahy Flores
The price is the same.
Richard Bexon
It’s no difference. I don’t understand why you wouldn’t do it.
Sarahy Flores
Exactly. The price is the same. The outcome will be fastly different.
There’s only so much we can do if we have to fix. If we’re brought in at the beginning, then the process is very different and it’s really a collaborative effort between everyone. There’s also, just in the process, if you bring in interior designer at the very end, it limits us to what we can get done, right?
Because you have a team already set in place. You have your builder, you have your architect, so only you’re bringing an external person. We don’t get that much say.
If we’re brought in at the beginning and it’s really a collaborative effort, the result is just going to be better and everyone is going to work better throughout the whole process.
Richard Bexon
Well, look, I mean, you’re preaching to the choir here, sorry. I mean, I think on every single one of our projects, you’ve been there from day one. So, yeah, I mean, look, I always say, you know, I think the architects are there to win prizes, you know, to get their designs on the front of magazines.
So, you need to be aware of that. The builders just want to put blocks together. They’re building Lego, if that makes sense.
And no one’s really thinking about how it looks and feels internally inside it as well on the flow of space to space. I mean, the architects maybe a little bit, but again, I mean, you know, it’s a very different part of the brain, I think being used.
Sarahy Flores
So, yeah, and I think we, it’s just the architect things about it as space, right? Yeah, not as being used in my opinion.
Richard Bexon
Yeah, there’s a functional function.
Sarahy Flores
Yeah, a functional aspect to it. And then, of course, you want it to be beautiful. Yeah, that’s obviously what we do.
But a pretty house that doesn’t function is just the really expensive inconvenience.
Richard Bexon
Whoa.
Sarahy Flores
So, that’s what we tried to do.
Practical examples from projects
Richard Bexon
Well, I mean, I’ll give you an example, said, when we were building Zana doing our now, I remember you going, guys, where’s the laundry room? You know, and it’s a vacation rental, if that makes sense. It’s basically like a hotel.
So, the laundry room is pretty important, you know, and now reflecting back, I’m like, I would have made the laundry room bigger and, you know, probably a little bit more storage. And then I realized, you know, as we started to get through it, because we finished Man 1 and Tony, I was like, we need another fridge, because the clients need to use one fridge, and then the staff needs to have another one with all the good because we do where does that go? You know, so, yeah, you know, and that stuff that you think about at the end, that you never really incorporate in a design at the beginning.
Sarahy Flores
Right. So, that’s what where we come in and what we try to do to point out missing laundry rooms.
Developers, budgets and where money goes
Richard Bexon
Well, let’s talk developers, because developers are very different than designers and architects and builders. What do you wish they understood before starting a project?
Sarahy Flores
I think, well, where to put the money is a big one. In my case, I think sometimes, you know, the bigger parts of the budget are allocated before the designer comes in. I think there’s things where the money usually, you get the leftovers right of the budget, especially if you come in late.
I think there’s things that are really important that you invest quality in buildings, your kitchens, things like that. These are very important things. And then smaller pieces, I think, are not as important.
And this is ultimately what people are going to really look at, right? You’re not going to, people don’t live outside looking at their house. People are ultimately going to be looking at, oh, what are the finishes in the kitchen?
How does the shower look? Whatever’s inside your walls, however important of course it is, it’s not going to sell your home. So, these are important things.
This is important to budget. And this takes a lot more work than might initially seem. So, bringing in a designer, I think for some people, for some developers, feels like an extra added luxury because they already have an architect that actually it doesn’t.
It saves you in the long run.
Richard Bexon
Yeah. I mean, look, in most quotes that we get, the architect is also playing the interior designer or someone in her office. And that doesn’t always go hand in hand either, if that makes sense.
Because a lot of the time, the architect doesn’t have time to dedicate to that stuff as well, even though they say that they will, they don’t. I mean, theirs is, get the design and the plan done, if that makes sense. Get it over to their engineers so their engineers can get it done.
Like, they’re trying to push through stuff as quick as possible, if that makes sense. And no one is going, hey, guys, let’s just wait and think about this of like, you know, I mean, I sort of, we’re taking on a remodel project where I’m like, dude, you’re gonna have to redo that whole kitchen. He’s like, why?
Well, I’m like, the sink is one side, the fridge is the other. And then you’ve got the cooktop in the middle as well. I’m like, that triangle is just terrible.
Like, you know, you’re going to be bumping in and running all over stuff all the time. But like, I think it’s like, again, no one is taking that time to think about that. But yeah.
Time and logistics in Costa Rica
Sarahy Flores
Yeah, I think it’s also because I don’t think people realize how much time that actually takes. If it’s a full time job for me, that it’s going to be the same thing for an architect, but they’re not allocating that time or that personnel to doing that specific thing. Also, architects are usually a lot more hands off, depending, of course, on who, but one.
Richard Bexon
No, I’m sorry, I know our hands off.
Sarahy Flores
Yeah. So once it’s designed, once it’s permitted, once you start building, they take a step back and they move on. In our case, it’s the exact opposite.
The closer you get to the finishing dates, the more hands on, you know, you have to be. And there’s a whole part of logistics that architects don’t have to pour. And that’s logistics in Costa Rica.
It’s very different. There’s no online shopping. There’s no, you know, there’s no big moving companies that go anywhere in the country.
It’s for every little town. There’s a different guy with a truck that does your move. So it’s it’s a whole thing and no one has time for it.
And it hits you at the end.
Richard Bexon
Hey, look, I like to call it a death by a thousand cuts, you know, it’s payment after payment after payment after payment with transport. Anyway, but yeah. But again, much needed.
I mean, I think when you see the final product, you’re like, wow, you know, it’s it’s you can tell an interior designer has been bought on, you know, and even in our Mammal Antonio project, which you did, you know, a lot of our clients have been like, Hey, where did you get this from? Where did you get this from? Where did you get that from?
You know, and they live in the US and they’re like, where did you get the concrete tables from? And it’s like, dude, you’re not getting concrete tables shipped from Costa Rica to the US, like, that’s the beauty of a Costa Rica to you.
Sarahy Flores
Like, there’s custom items, custom furniture. Anything custom really is so inexpensive to make here compared to anywhere else. So that’s the beauty of, but you have to know the people.
These are not big companies doing these things. Right. So these are small, independent, local people that live somewhere, very random in the country and making beautiful things, but you have to know them and bring them.
And that’s what gives warmth and heart to the projects. And it shows at the end.
Networks, experience and when designers aren’t needed
Richard Bexon
Well, I think that’s Costa Rica here is just that like, it’s a country of your network, like, in, you know, you know, your network is your work, but really hearing Costa Rica, it is. And you better know what it is you’re doing. That’s why sometimes when I see people who come down here for a year and I’d like, you know, they’ve been here for six months or a year is like, yeah, I’ve got it all sorted.
I’m like, man, I mean, I’ve been here for 21 years and I still don’t have it all, you know, yeah. But when do you think an interior designer is not needed?
Sarahy Flores
I think if you have a very small project that is personal to you, maybe it’s your own home, it’s a small, when I say small is maybe not, you know, a whole bunch of bedrooms, things like that. And you want to be very involved. You do have to know you should be very, very involved from the beginning and look at everything with a fine food comb.
But I think in that aspect, you can totally do it. I think as soon as you start doing projects with more than three, four, five bedrooms and becomes a lot more complicated, I think it will save you time, money, and probably a lot of, you know, stress, yeah, a lot of stress, because it’s not, it’s not an easy job to do. I think there’s a lot of things people don’t think about, just like in terms of, for example, a bathroom, you know, people think, okay, the tile and fixtures, and then but no, you have to design the cabinetry and the countertop and the floor, and you know, how do you lay it out and all these decisions.
If you don’t have an interior designer, these are not decisions an architect will take. So this is on you, or your project manager, I don’t know, but someone has to figure these things out. And this usually comes at the end.
And the builder won’t ask you for these things until he’s ready to install.
Richard Bexon
Yeah.
Sarahy Flores
So oh, we need this in this decision, we need it tomorrow because they’re starting, right? So there’s this whole aspect of it that can be avoided. So as soon as your house or your project is a little bit bigger, I would 100% recommend.
Role of project managers
Richard Bexon
Look, I mean, you know, because sometimes people are even to me like rich, when like, why do I need a project manager? And I’m like, man, it’s like an walker strap. You need a composer there making sure that everybody is doing their stuff when it should be done, you know, et cetera.
Sarahy Flores
100%.
Richard Bexon
You know, and sometimes clients are like, well, that was really easy, rich. Maybe I didn’t need you. I was like, no, like it was easy because you had us, if that made sense, like you didn’t have to do it.
Sarahy Flores
I have worked on both. I’ve worked on projects with the project manager. I’ve worked on a project without.
And the difference is night and day, the chaos, no one’s communicating is the point. Everyone’s doing their thing. And then at the moment of putting it together, things don’t fit.
Richard Bexon
Yeah. Or it’s the client that has to step in and go everyone shut up. This is what we’re going to do.
Sarahy Flores
Exactly, which is again, not what the client wants to.
Richard Bexon
Exactly. Hey, even I get stress that those deliveries are some of those projects. That being said, the most recent two in the year before, I was pretty chilled, to be honest with you, very, very chilled.
Sarahy Flores
Yeah.
Richard Bexon
As you know, Marlon Antonio, the first three were not very chilled. So no, I had to manage that one. But anyway, I mean, everything together.
Yeah. And a construction company came out of it.
Sarahy Flores
So it’s also true.
Richard Bexon
Exactly. What is the biggest design mistake? I mean, a lot of people listening to this are looking to invest potential in a short term rental here in Costa Rica, which at the moment, I’d be like, guys, you really know what it is you need to do, like what you’re doing here at the moment, because again, the market is kind of somewhat flooded with short term rentals.
But what do you think is the biggest design mistake you think people making short term rentals?
Durability and spending priorities in rentals
Sarahy Flores
Durability, not investing in durability. You don’t want something that is going to be very beautiful and extremely high maintenance. This needs to withstand.
There’s things for a rental property you’re going to have to replace in a few years. You have to know that it’s just more used in a regular home. So there’s always things that you’re going to have to replace faster than you would, you know, in your own home.
However, there’s so many mistakes you can make that will just be expensive in the end. So durability, you know, durable flooring, durable materials, outdoor fabrics, woods that aren’t going to that are going to withstand these weather because the weather here is crazy. You have extreme drought, you have extreme moisture.
These are all kind of little details that will make a huge impact. Your surfaces, anything like that, you just need to invest in durability. And then don’t spend big money on decorative items.
You don’t need to. This can be replaced easily. Spend your money really where it’s needed and get good cabinetry, good kitchen, things like that.
And then the small items you can replace. And that’s okay. You don’t need to spend a fortune.
Richard Bexon
Yeah, I mean, I think you need to look at it as like it’s a hotel. People are coming in and coming out. So the grade quality needs to be hotel.
Like it needs to be good quality, but like, don’t spend thousands of dollars, you know, $10,000 on a sofa that you’re going to have to replace in like a year or two years, if it makes sense.
Sarahy Flores
Exactly. But you spend the money on cabinetry that if you need to do maintenance, you can sand it down and restain, not that you have to rip out your whole kitchen.
Richard Bexon
Yeah.
Sarahy Flores
So spend it wisely.
Richard Bexon
I was about to ask, where else would you, where else would you over spend and where would you like never cut corners?
Sarahy Flores
I would never cut corners with any building cabinetry, closets, things like that. I think there’s a lot of full finishes, Melanie, things like that going that they’re just not made for this weather. They’re beautiful hardwoods that, you know, you can be worked here and you get very solid rugged furniture, go for it.
That’s where I would never, yeah, never skip costs. I think there’s things where there’s a huge leap, like finishes like flooring, you know, Richard, we’ve done flooring. That’s actually good quality, but not that expensive.
I think there’s a wide range. I think that’s where you can save. There’s places where you can save and where I would just not get, yeah, anything that is related to your kitchen, your appliances, for example, is something that if I were still working in New York City, where I started, you know, yes, get the very high end, create appliances, and then don’t do that here.
So that’s, you know, don’t spend heaps of money on appliances that no one knows how to fix, and you can’t get the parts for get standard, all of those. And if you need to replace them in five years, fine, but you didn’t buy a $10,000 fridge. Yeah, that’s just not going to work in this, in this country.
So there’s things, yeah, there’s things that you need to look at for. And then if you want to spend a lot of money on, I have clients who like to spend a lot of money on art. That’s great, but it should be the last on your list of priorities.
Don’t under spend on quality window treatments to then buy a very expensive art. The things that you will use is where you need to spend your money.
Richard Bexon
Well, I mean, look, I think if it’s a vacation rental, don’t put an expensive art up because it’s going to get broken, if that makes sense.
Sarahy Flores
Someone’s going, you know, but this is a conversation I’ve had like, oh, why are my window treatments, you know, thousands of dollars? And then when they’re spending, when I know they’re spending it somewhere else, but they don’t maybe don’t want to spend it on something that’s not as exciting. And I understand that, but that’s things are used is where you need to spend the most.
Richard Bexon
I think as a vacation rental, 100%, you know, if it’s your own home, you know, still again, you know, I’m in the industry, we both are of just like, you know, I love the bricks and mortar of investing my money there. Like the artwork can come later. Like, I can buy that later.
The problem is, I can’t go back in and reinvest the money in the bricks and mortar, if that makes sense. Like, I only do it once. So I make sure it’s done well once.
It might take a little bit more time on like the artwork stuff, you know, because again, I like artwork as much as the next guy. But like, you know, when I’m decorating a house and I’m like, it’s $3,000 on, you know, extra on windows or a piece of artwork, I’m like, I’m going on windows. Yes.
Sarahy Flores
Even if it’s not exciting and you can’t see it.
Richard Bexon
Yeah, exactly. Because where your money should go. I’d probably geek out on windows, to be honest with you.
But anyway, yeah, you know, that’s just me. But how do designers usually make their money savvy? And you know, yeah.
How designers charge
Sarahy Flores
I think there’s different, there’s different ways here in Costa Rica. I think there’s, the way I do it is I set a flat fee for space. So depending on the space you’re in and what needs to be done there, I set a flat flat fee.
There’s also a percentage based amount that interior designers charge. That’s just an amount of on top of your whatever you’re spending your whole budget or an hourly rate. For me personally, an hourly rate doesn’t work well.
I have multiple projects going at the same time. I’m doing multiple things for multiple people. It gets very convoluted.
And it’s also difficult to estimate initially, you know, how long things are going to take. And then a percentage based is very common. I don’t love to do that.
I want my clients to know that what I’m showing them is the best for the project. I’m not just showing them something expensive, you know, for the sake of my fee. So I like to kind of keep it clean.
And also I think a flat fee works well because you know what you’re going to spend initially, how much you’re going to cost you. And that’s what it’s going to be. And unless there’s, you know, a room added or something added, that’s going to be your cost.
And because also the process of getting, you know, for a client a $5,000 couch and putting it in their space versus getting a $25,000 couch, the process of the work is the same. Right. So I think that should be completely separate.
And then, but yes, there’s definitely those three things. There’s also the way architects do it, where they just included in their fee. And the most important part of that, because there are architecture firms that have designers working for them, I think the most important thing in that is just to know exactly what they will be doing.
Richard Bexon
A lot of the time, they ain’t delivering knives and forks and glasses and stuff, you know, a key. Most owners are like, I just want to walk in, fall in love with the place and for you to give me the key.
Sarahy Flores
Exactly. And I’ll unbit your nose, I’ll be there, you know, a little fair and putting knives in the drawers and making sure it’s actually finished. But yeah, so it’s a different surface that you get 100%.
Richard Bexon
Yeah, I mean, look, I think that there is again, as you said, there’s the flat fee model where it’s basically, I pay my fee, you get everything at the cost, the price that I get it, I’m not making commercial stuff. There’s the hey, I’m going to charge you a smaller fee and make commissions on stuff, which I’m not a big fan of, just because again, I feel that like interests are not aligned there. The reason being here is if now I want a couch and you’re not making commission on it or something, you’re going to push like, if there’s no alignment there, like you’re not on the buyer side of the transaction, if that makes sense, you’re now on the pro like the resellers side of the transaction, trying to make as money as much money as you can.
And it doesn’t matter whether you you’re like, no, no, no, that’s not important to me. Like you’re making money. So there’s an incentive there.
Sarahy Flores
Yes. Yes. And I, for me, the important thing is working with my client, right, getting them the best I can get them within their budget.
Also very important to stay within that budget, which is also something that I think us as interior designers do and is try to stay within that budget, right? It sounds kind of like, oh, the interior designer has all these dreams and things that they want to do for your space, which we do. But part of our job is to manage that budget, right?
Richard Bexon
So I mean, I give you a budget on every project that we have, you know, and then you go into miracles, basically.
Sarahy Flores
So, yeah, that’s, that’s what I tried to do it.
Final question: investing in Costa Rica
Richard Bexon
Awesome. Well, Sonny, it’s been an absolute pleasure having you here on the podcast. My last question for you, if you inherited $500,000 and you had to invest into a business or real estate in Costa Rica, what would you invest in?
Last time, I think you answered that you would have an interior design shop.
Sarahy Flores
I still want, I still want to do that. So that’s still where part of the money would go. I think there’s an aspect missing here.
There’s no home decor. There’s furniture all that you want. Home decor is very difficult to get.
There’s very limited choices and it’s expensive. So I still would do that. And then in the real estate aspect of it, I would do, I would build something mid-range, not ultra luxury.
It’s not something that will only rent in peak season. I would want something somewhere mid-range, three or four bedrooms, something that will rent year round and obviously investing a lot of it into the design.
Richard Bexon
Where would you do it in Costa Rica, Sadie? Because you get it all over the country, what would you do it? Well, forget that you had to manage it, of course.
Sarahy Flores
So I live in Tamanino. I love Tamanino, not necessarily want to do it in Tamanino. It’s quite saturated.
I think places between here and no Sara are growing a lot. So you have Awayanes, you have Asinapina, you have Playanera, those small towns connecting the more hot spots. It’s not so much.
It used to be, you know, you had Tamanino, you had no Sara, you had Samara, and then it jumped. Now all the towns in between are coming up a lot more and people are looking for a peace and quiet. So maybe not, you know, downtown Tamanino, but a little bit out.
Close to nightlife restaurants, things like that, but maybe not in the hot spot of things.
Richard Bexon
Awesome. Well, Sadie, it’s been an absolute pleasure having you here on the podcast as always. I think the last time we got you one here was quite a while back.
Sarahy Flores
That’s not that good.
Richard Bexon
Exactly. But if anyone wants to speak to Sadie, you will basically see her website. I’ll include everything underneath down below.
But very much appreciate your attention.
