A Moment with Lohralee Astor

What began as a personal quest to create the perfect dinnerware for her own family has rapidly evolved into Lohr Astor, a luxury British fine bone china brand defined by timeless craftsmanship, expressive geometry, and everyday elegance. 

Handcrafted in the historic ceramic heartland of Stoke-on-Trent, her debut collections seamlessly blend spatial design principles with a philosophy that life’s finest things are meant to be lived with, layered, and enjoyed every day.

Fresh off a landmark milestone launching alongside the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York, Lohralee sits down with us to reflect on the artistry of traditional pottery techniques, her autumnal style essentials, the secret to hosting unforgettable gatherings, and why family remains at the absolute heart of everything she creates.

Let’s get into it.

Your career began in interior design and bespoke furniture after training at the Inchbald School of Design. Was there a specific moment when your creative focus narrowed to the table as the emotional anchor of the home?

It really began with something very simple and personal. I wanted to create something for myself and for my family. We needed new plates for our table, and when I looked around, I couldn’t find what I wanted. That became the starting point. I began drawing and developing pieces for our own home, without initially thinking of it as a business. But through that process, I realised I wanted to make this into something more. I always wanted to create my own line and as the collection started to take shape I realised this was going to be it.

How do memories of family gatherings, childhood meals, or early entertaining inspire the tactile details and motifs in your tableware?

Family is really at the heart of the collection. I wanted the line to be British-made as a way of honouring my family. My husband is English, as are my children. The four patterns are named after them, with the four points of the Waldorf Star representing them together. I have always loved cooking and, since childhood, creating my own recipes, so combining that with my passion for design made tableware feel like a very natural first step. The Waldorf Star is our bold geometric signature, Allegra Scallop is softer and more rhythmic, Conrad Classic brings elegant timeless lines, and India Cloud adds depth, movement and colour. Together, they are designed to be mixed and layered so the table feels collected, expressive and full of personality.

Mealtimes have always felt special to me because they are where people are present and memories are made, and I hope these pieces become part of those moments and hold fond memories of their own.

Lohr Astor fine bone china is handcrafted in Stoke-on-Trent, the historic heart of British ceramics. What has been the most rewarding, or challenging, part of preserving traditional British pottery techniques in a modern context?

For me, the most rewarding part is the craft itself and the people behind it. Each piece passes through around 25 to 30 pairs of hands, and many of the artisans have been practising these specialist skills for most of their lives, so their experience and judgement become part of the finished piece. I love that something made slowly, by hand and with such care carries a sense of warmth, individuality and soul. That is what makes British craftsmanship so special to me, and why I want these pieces to be used, enjoyed and lived with every day.

You design pieces to be mixed, layered, and used daily rather than stored away for rare occasions. What design choices ensure fine bone china feels effortless and approachable for modern, relaxed entertaining?

I have always believed that beautiful things should be used and enjoyed every day, not put away waiting for a special occasion. For me, time is one of life’s greatest luxuries, our pieces take time and care to make, and equally, the time we choose to spend with people we love is incredibly precious. Simply sitting around a table together, being present and making memories, is a special occasion in itself. Lohr Astor is a luxury collection designed for real life: most pieces are dishwasher safe, the patterns can be mixed and layered according to your mood, and the wider collection gives you the freedom to curate a table in your own way. I want the pieces to feel beautiful and special, but also completely at home in everyday life.

Working alongside an iconic landmark like the Waldorf Astoria New York is a monumental moment. How do you choose future collaborators to ensure their values align with Lohr Astor’s ethos of quality and heritage?

Launching Lohr Astor at the Waldorf Astoria New York, alongside the introduction of Elevenses, was an incredibly special moment for me and made the collaboration feel very meaningful from the outset. What made it feel so natural was that we shared a real respect for craftsmanship, heritage and the importance of creating something with care. We developed a bespoke Astra Yellow for the hotel that captured the spirit and atmosphere of the Waldorf Astoria and reflected the warmth and elegance of the space. We were also deeply inspired by the extraordinary attention they gave to restoring the hotel’s historic details and by the skilled artisans involved in bringing those elements back to life. In our own way, Lohr Astor shares that same belief in time, craft and working with the right people to create something beautiful and lasting. For future collaboration, I would want that same sense of shared values, creativity and genuine connection.

How does your background in spatial and ceramic design translate into your personal style? Are you drawn to structured, architectural silhouettes or softer, tactile layers when you are working?

Probably both, and I think you can see that balance in the collection. The Waldorf Star is
architectural and geometric, Allegra Scallop is softer and more rhythmic, India Cloud is bold and atmospheric, and Conrad Classic is restrained, elegant and structured.

My personal style works in much the same way. I love classic cuts and a strong silhouette, but I also like something with a bit of edge or an unexpected detail, and I tend to mix smart pieces with more relaxed ones. I like clothes to be versatile, something I can wear with trainers during the day and then dress up with heels later on. In that sense, it is very similar to the way I think about Lohr Astor: pieces that can move easily from breakfast to a beautiful dinner, and be dressed up or down depending on the mood.

As the new season sets in, which rich autumnal palettes, perhaps deep plums, warm terracotta, or earthy neutrals, are finding their way into both your wardrobe and your dining settings?

At the moment I am really drawn to ochre and golden yellow. It is so warm and inviting, and feels particularly beautiful in autumn, although I think they can move just as easily into summer. I love pairing those tones with chocolate, white and, of course, reds and blues. Our Astra Yellow works beautifully at this time of year, especially alongside Celeste Blue, because together they have both warmth and freshness. Interestingly, I have found myself wearing a lot of golden yellow, so that colour seems to be finding its way into both my wardrobe and my table. 

What are three non-negotiable autumn fashion pieces you find yourself reaching for during busy launch seasons and seasonal entertaining? 

For me, it’s the three B’s: belt, boots and bag. Boots are an autumn essential because you can wear them all day and they instantly help pull an outfit together, while a great belt and handbag can completely change the look. I also get cold quite easily, so cashmere jumpers are always essential, and I love a beautifully cut blazer because it can make even the simplest outfit feel polished. Life is so busy, so I like pieces that are practical, versatile and easy to dress up or down.

For you, what transforms a simple dinner into an unforgettable gathering?

I think an unforgettable gathering should have something old and something new. I love seating people with someone familiar, but also beside someone new or interesting who might inspire them. That balance of comfort and discovery is important. It runs through my designs too, with echoes of classic styles alongside bolder, newer patterns, and even through the music. I love a new song with a familiar beat woven into it. I also always try to put something unexpected on the table, perhaps a dish from another country or something people haven’t tried before. Add warm lighting and a beautiful table, and ultimately you want people to feel completely at home, but leave having discovered something new.

Which art movements, architectural landmarks, or landscape scenes are currently feeding your creative imagination?

As a child, I was obsessed with Turner and Monet and would spend hours trying to copy their paintings, so I think I have always been very visual. I am fascinated by colour and pigment in paintings, old buildings, ceramics but equally by the details in architecture: an arch, a curve, a beautifully proportioned structure or the craftsmanship behind it. Nature affects me in exactly the same way. I can become completely absorbed by the colours and lines in a single leaf or flower. I think I am constantly looking, wherever I am, and sometimes the smallest detail can stop me in my tracks. Those are often the moments that eventually find their way into my designs. 

If we were to look at your home dining table right now, what is one non-china object, an heirloom vase, vintage cutlery, or candleholder, that always finds a place in your layout?

Candlesticks, always. Candlelight can do most of the decorating for you, it softens a room and, rather conveniently, makes everyone look and behave a little more beautifully. I love silver on a table, whether sterling or plate; it adds glamour without trying too hard. I don’t get to go as often as I’d like, but I love finding the odd piece at antique shops and fairs it’s always a fun adventure especially when you get a good find. We inherited placemats with the family crest and use them every day, which is exactly how I think beautiful things should be enjoyed. For me, a table should feel chic and accumulated rather than overly styled. Old with new, inherited with discovered. Life is too precious not to use the beautiful things in it.

After the fast-paced energy of launching in New York and collaborating with the Waldorf Astoria, what was your favourite quiet moment to celebrate or exhale once you got home?

Coming home to my family. After the excitement and pace of New York, I loved simply
hunkering down at home. Spending time with the children, long walks with the dog, and just being together without an agenda. We are incredibly close to my mother- and father-in-law too, and they’re such an important part of our lives, so having everyone together across the generations is something we really treasure. I think there is something wonderfully grounding about that continuity of family, children, parents, grandparents, and our circus of pets. Those are the moments that bring me back to myself and remind me what matters most. 

What are you most looking forward to as the autumn season settles in, whether that’s a favourite crisp walk, a cosy recipe returning to your kitchen, or a shift in the evening light?

October is probably one of my favourite months. I love the changing leaves and those extraordinary autumn colours, and perhaps it is my Canadian upbringing, but Canadian Thanksgiving is especially important to me. We do the whole thing: turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie and pecan pie, and I love the tradition of gathering family and friends around the table and taking a moment to be grateful. Traditions matter enormously to me; this is how memories are made and passed on, often without you even realising it. And October has that wonderful sweet spot. Crisp enough for long walks and candlelit evenings, but not yet properly cold, with Thanksgiving at one end and the fun of Halloween at the other. For me, so many of the best memories begin and end around a table.

On a rare completely free autumn Sunday, where would we most likely find you, and what are you wearing?

One hundred per cent in the countryside, surrounded by the whole family. My husband,
children, my mother- and father-in-law, the dog, the cats and even the rabbit. There really isn’t anywhere else I would rather be. Ideally, we would be out for a long walk, followed by Sunday lunch and a roaring fire. I would be wearing classic blue jeans or smart trousers with a T-shirt and a cashmere jumper, boots and possibly a tweed blazer…Simple, comfortable and timeless. Nothing elaborate, nowhere to rush to just a very good Sunday. 

As you wrap up this milestone year, what is one personal wish or intention you’re setting for yourself as we head toward the winter months?

To remain very close to the reason I started. This year has moved much faster and further than I imagined, and I am incredibly grateful for that. But Lohr Astor began with something very simple: drawing pieces for my own family table. As the business grows, I want to protect that sense of curiosity and personal meaning. I hope we can build something substantial without becoming hurried by it, continuing to make things properly, choosing collaborations thoughtfully and leaving enough space for family, creativity and the next idea to arrive.

For me, growth is exciting, but keeping the heart of something intact is the real ambition.

As the autumn season sets in and a milestone year draws to a close, Lohralee Astor’s vision for the modern table remains as grounded as it is inspiring. In an era often driven by speed, her dedication to slow, deliberate craftsmanship, where every piece carries the warmth and soul of dozens of artisan hands, feels like a quiet revolution in luxury design. 

Whether she is curating an eclectic mix of patterns for an effortless dinner party or gathering across generations at home in the countryside, her core belief remains unchanged: time spent around a table with the people we love is the greatest luxury of all.

Image credit: Lohra Astor