Rie Minoura's style: simplicity, with a keen eye for detail

There is a lot to enjoy in Roku Kyoto—the first LXR resort under the Hilton brand in the Asia-Pacific, from the finely textured traditional craft paper lining the walls, to the intricate wooden lattice decorating the spa therapy rooms. The same could be said of Roku Kyoto head designer Rie Minoura’s personal style.

The associate director of Blink Design Group and mother to two young children dresses for comfort and functionality, but never sacrifices elegance. More likely to be found in breezy outfits with sandals than power suits and skinny heels, she is also never sloppy.

“I dress simply, but I appreciate craftsmanship, and details that draw the eye, such as how a garment is cut,” says the 37-year-old, who studied interior architecture at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and moved to Singapore in 2011 to learn the design style of Southeast Asia. “As with architectural design, you don’t just look for interesting overall form and shapes, but also details.”

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Her love for simplicity and detail not only guides the selection of her wardrobe, but the interior design for her home as well. It is both relaxed and inviting, with an understated aesthetic. There is only one piece of designer furniture by the living room window, a Flexform sectional. The plain walls are anchored by statement art pieces from her travels: “I am not a name collector. If I see something nice—even if it is from Chatuchak Market in Bangkok—I will buy it. I look for pieces that I won’t tire of, and that are interesting even if I look at them every day.”

Minoura creates spaces that evoke different moods for different activities at a resort, just as she carves out niches inside her house for her family. “With two very young children in the house, there are toys everywhere. Instead of getting rid of them, I incorporate toys that fit into the space. For example, I have wooden toys for imaginative play in the living room. I also have an outdoor space with active toys. The idea is to create different moods in different sections of our home.”

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Growing up in the UK, her family home was quite different. “I was surrounded by design magazines at home, and my mother, who taught flower arrangement, took me to interior design shops. I found the aesthetics quite different from the relaxed resort style in South-east Asia, which intrigued me. That is why I moved to Singapore (as a base within the region).”

Minoura would later work at the Singapore studio of iconic Indonesian hospitality designer Jaya Ibrahim between 2014 and 2016. "I was really drawn to his design style. My previous boss at Japanese firm Design Studio Spin was a detail- oriented perfectionist, whereas Jaya was about understated but luxurious comfort. His design philosophy still influences me to this day.”

SARTORIAL SELECTIONS

Although Minoura tends to buy clothing in neutral tones, it’s not because she dislikes colour. It’s quite the opposite. “I’m particular about colours. I won’t buy them if they aren’t quite right.” The Hermès outfit in “a fresh but muted buttercup yellow” that she chose certainly met her chromatic requirements.

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