The First

Red Silk Salon

Where Conversation Becomes Culture

A literary-cultural evening of story, art, place and conversation at The Vintage Hotel & Spa, Lisbon.

The Beginning of a Gathering

On March 31st, 2026, The first Red Silk Salon was held in the design-led surroundings of The Vintage Hotel & Spa in Lisbon.

Guests gathered for an evening of literature, conversation and art, exploring themes of identity, place, transformation and the stories that shape our lives.

Alongside readings and conversation, the launch featured the RED Collection, seven original paintings by Swedish artist Ingela Johansson, created in response to the novel’s emotional turning points.

The Vintage Hotel & Spa

Every Red Silk Salon begins with place. For the first gathering, that place was The Vintage Hotel & Spa in Lisbon's Príncipe Real district.

Elegant, contemporary and deeply rooted in the character of the city, it provided a natural home for an evening devoted to story, art and conversation.

The Conversation

A Red Silk Salon is not a lecture or a networking event. It is a shared inquiry.

Through story, reflection and conversation, guests are invited to explore the questions that sit beneath the surface of everyday life, and to discover what emerges when different perspectives meet around the same table.

The RED Collection

Created by Swedish artist Ingela Johansson, the RED Collection explores the emotional currents that run through The Red Silk Dress.

Presented as part of the salon experience, the paintings offered guests another way into the story, through colour, memory, longing and transformation.

The Evening in Pictures

Browse through selected moments from the evening, capturing the atmosphere, artwork, readings and encounters that shaped the first Red Silk Salon.

The Vintage Hotel & Spa, Lisbon, the setting for the first Red Silk Salon.
The entrance to The Vintage Hotel, quietly setting the tone for the evening ahead.
The first Red Silk Salon invitation, welcoming guests into the evening.
Two paintings from the RED Collection, by Ingela Johansson, inspired by the emotional thresholds of The Red Silk Dress.
The Red Silk Dress alongside 'The Living Current' one of the paintings from the RED Collection.
Natalie Turner with her husband, Carl Hinds, who hosted and emceed the evening.
Carl Hinds with Ingela Johansson, the Swedish artist behind the RED Collection.
Conversations sparked by literature, art and the stories we carry.
Readers and guests gathering in Lisbon for an evening of books, conversation and connection.
Natalie in conversation with a guest before the opening of the first Red Silk Salon.
New connections formed and stories shared over a glass of wine.
An evening of literature, art and connection at the first Red Silk Salon.
Carl opening the first Red Silk Salon and welcoming guests to the evening.
Setting the tone for the conversation ahead.
Carl introduces Nick Roucos, General Manager of Bomporto Hotels, whose team hosted the salon at The Vintage.
Nick sharing the vision behind the hotel and its invitation to guests: inspire, relax and play.
Natalie and Ingela listening as the evening's conversations begin to unfold.
Nick reflects on the role of hospitality, culture and art in creating meaningful guest experiences.
Guests thank Nick for his inspiring opening remarks.
Carl reflects on witnessing the writing journey of The Red Silk Dress before introducing Natalie Turner, author of the novel.
Natalie reflects on the writing of The Red Silk Dress, weaving together the themes of inspiration, rest, play and creative awakening.
Carl stands beside 'Between Holding and Letting Go' as Natalie shares the story behind The Red Silk Dress.
Natalie shares reflections on her writing journey.
Guests listen to the stories behind the story.
Natalie reads from The Red Silk Dress as the novel moves from page into voice.
At the edge of the room, a guest remain absorbed as the story continues to unfold.
'Between Holding and Letting Go", from Ingela Johansson’s RED Collection. The quiet threshold where certainty ends and possibility begins.
Natalie introduces the "There's Always Tomorrow" cards, inviting guests to reflect on dreams postponed, and possibilities still waiting to be explored.
Ingela holds a "There's Always Tomorrow" card during the salon conversation.
A guest asks for a "There's Always Tomorrow" card, joining the evening's shared reflection on possibility and change.
A guest receives her card and pauses to reflect.
"There's Always Tomorrow."
Thoughts become words as a guest records their reflections during the salon.
A guests writes her reflections.
A guest offers her card as the shared reflection comes into the room.
Carl collects the cards, bringing the guests' private reflections into the heart of the salon.
The "There's Always Tomorrow" cards gathered in a red box.
Carl introduces Ingela Johansson, the artist behind the RED Collection.
Ingela shares how The Red Silk Dress inspired her creative process and the making of the RED Collection.
Ingela shares the story behind the RED Collection and the paintings inspired by The Red Silk Dress.
A guest listens as Ingela reflects on creativity, emotion and artistic interpretation.
Ingela speaks about translating the novel's emotional landscape into colour, texture and form.
Natalie and Ingela reflect on the creative collaboration behind The Red Silk Dress and the RED Collection.
Guests are invited to reflect on what they see in the painting 'Between Holding and Letting Go'.
Guests share their reflections.
Guests open the conversation beyond the painting.
A guest responds to 'Between Holding and Letting Go', bringing his own story into the discussion.
The salon becomes a shared inquiry as guests offer their thoughts on what the painting stirred in them.
A guest shares his reflections on 'Between Holding and Letting Go.'
Carl closes the salon and invites guests to leave a message in The Red Silk Dress guest book.
As the evening continues, Ingela shares the RED Collection catalogue and the stories behind the paintings with guests.
The evening continues with wine and the warmth of shared celebration.
Carl talks with a guest as the room gathers over food, and informal conversation.
The evening softens into connection and the stories still unfolding.
Natalie continues the conversation with a guest on the themes of the evening.
Guests exchange stories, reflections and glimpses of their own journeys.
Natalie signs a copy of The Red Silk Dress, adding a personal note for a guest to take home.
Natalie signs a copy of The Red Silk Dress in front of 'Heart Unbound.'
Natalie smiles as she signs a copy of The Red Silk Dress.
Pen poised above the page, a personal inscription begins.
Holding The Red Silk Dress, while signing the guest book, words are added to the evening’s story.
Each dedication carries its own story, written in the quiet moments between conversations.
A moment of reflection between conversations, stories and signatures.
A tender moment.
A signed copy of The Red Silk Dress, carrying the story beyond the room.
'Her Own True Colours' from the RED Collection, resting in the Hangout at The Vintage Hotel as the evening draws towards its next beginning.
Ingela with a look that says the story is only just beginning.
A story of longing, courage and transformation, ready to begin again in another pair of hands.
As the evening draws to a close, The Vintage remains, holding the memories of a night of literature, art and conversation.

Press & Reflections

Following the first Red Silk Salon at The Vintage Hotel, I reflected on the evening in my monthly column for The Portugal News. The piece explores the idea of conversation as culture, the importance of place in shaping experience, and the role that literature, art and hospitality can play in bringing people together.

The Portugal News

The First Red Silk Salon:

A Tertúlia at the Vintage

READ THE COLUMN

In creative collaboration with

The Vintage Hotel & Spa
A 5-star oasis for inspiration, relaxation and play in Lisbon’s Príncipe Real, The Vintage brings together local craftsmanship, art, mid-century furnishings and a boutique hospitality experience shaped by the city around it.

@vintagelisbon

Ingela Johansson | RED Collection
Ingela Johansson created the RED Collection in response to the emotional landscape of The Red Silk Dress, bringing the novel to life in colour, movement and form through seven original paintings.

Paintings and fine art prints from the RED Collection are available through Ingela Johansson.

A New Cultural Format.

Red Silk Salons bring together literature, conversation, art, hospitality and place in thoughtfully curated settings.

Part literary gathering, part cultural salon, each event is designed around the unique character of its venue and audience, creating an experience that feels intimate, reflective and distinctly human.

Red Silk Salons can be adapted for a range of cultural, hospitality and destination partners, creating meaningful experiences that connect story, place and community.

Interested in Hosting a Red Silk Salon?

Red Silk Salons are created in collaboration with venues that value culture, conversation and beautifully curated experiences.

If you represent a hotel, gallery, cultural institution, private members' club, literary festival or destination partner, I would be delighted to explore what we might create together.

Enquire About Hosting a Salon

The First

Red Silk Salon

Where Conversation Becomes Culture

A literary-cultural evening of story, art, place and conversation at The Vintage Hotel & Spa, Lisbon.

The Beginning of a Gathering

The Vintage Hotel & Spa

The Conversation

The RED Collection

The Evening in Pictures

The Vintage Hotel & Spa, Lisbon, the setting for the first Red Silk Salon.

The entrance to The Vintage Hotel, quietly setting the tone for the evening ahead.

The first Red Silk Salon invitation, welcoming guests into the evening.

Two paintings from the RED Collection, by Ingela Johansson, inspired by the emotional thresholds of The Red Silk Dress.

The Red Silk Dress alongside 'The Living Current' one of the paintings from the RED Collection.

Natalie Turner with her husband, Carl Hinds, who hosted and emceed the evening.

Carl Hinds with Ingela Johansson, the Swedish artist behind the RED Collection.

Conversations sparked by literature, art and the stories we carry.

Readers and guests gathering in Lisbon for an evening of books, conversation and connection.

Natalie in conversation with a guest before the opening of the first Red Silk Salon.

New connections formed and stories shared over a glass of wine.

An evening of literature, art and connection at the first Red Silk Salon.

Carl opening the first Red Silk Salon and welcoming guests to the evening.

Setting the tone for the conversation ahead.

Carl introduces Nick Roucos, General Manager of Bomporto Hotels, whose team hosted the salon at The Vintage.

Nick sharing the vision behind the hotel and its invitation to guests: inspire, relax and play.

Natalie and Ingela listening as the evening's conversations begin to unfold.

Nick reflects on the role of hospitality, culture and art in creating meaningful guest experiences.

Guests thank Nick for his inspiring opening remarks.

Carl reflects on witnessing the writing journey of The Red Silk Dress before introducing Natalie Turner, author of the novel.

Natalie reflects on the writing of The Red Silk Dress, weaving together the themes of inspiration, rest, play and creative awakening.

Carl stands beside 'Between Holding and Letting Go' as Natalie shares the story behind The Red Silk Dress.

Natalie shares reflections on her writing journey.

Guests listen to the stories behind the story.

Natalie reads from The Red Silk Dress as the novel moves from page into voice.

At the edge of the room, a guest remain absorbed as the story continues to unfold.

'Between Holding and Letting Go", from Ingela Johansson’s RED Collection. The quiet threshold where certainty ends and possibility begins.

Natalie introduces the "There's Always Tomorrow" cards, inviting guests to reflect on dreams postponed, and possibilities still waiting to be explored.

Ingela holds a "There's Always Tomorrow" card during the salon conversation.

A guest asks for a "There's Always Tomorrow" card, joining the evening's shared reflection on possibility and change.

A guest receives her card and pauses to reflect.

"There's Always Tomorrow."

Thoughts become words as a guest records their reflections during the salon.

A guests writes her reflections.

A guest offers her card as the shared reflection comes into the room.

Carl collects the cards, bringing the guests' private reflections into the heart of the salon.

The "There's Always Tomorrow" cards gathered in a red box.

Carl introduces Ingela Johansson, the artist behind the RED Collection.

Ingela shares how The Red Silk Dress inspired her creative process and the making of the RED Collection.

Ingela shares the story behind the RED Collection and the paintings inspired by The Red Silk Dress.

A guest listens as Ingela reflects on creativity, emotion and artistic interpretation.

Ingela speaks about translating the novel's emotional landscape into colour, texture and form.

Natalie and Ingela reflect on the creative collaboration behind The Red Silk Dress and the RED Collection.

Guests are invited to reflect on what they see in the painting 'Between Holding and Letting Go'.

Guests share their reflections.

Guests open the conversation beyond the painting.

A guest responds to 'Between Holding and Letting Go', bringing his own story into the discussion.

The salon becomes a shared inquiry as guests offer their thoughts on what the painting stirred in them.

A guest shares his reflections on 'Between Holding and Letting Go.'

Carl closes the salon and invites guests to leave a message in The Red Silk Dress guest book.

As the evening continues, Ingela shares the RED Collection catalogue and the stories behind the paintings with guests.

The evening continues with wine and the warmth of shared celebration.

Carl talks with a guest as the room gathers over food, and informal conversation.

The evening softens into connection and the stories still unfolding.

Natalie continues the conversation with a guest on the themes of the evening.

Guests exchange stories, reflections and glimpses of their own journeys.

Natalie signs a copy of The Red Silk Dress, adding a personal note for a guest to take home.

Natalie signs a copy of The Red Silk Dress in front of 'Heart Unbound.'

Natalie smiles as she signs a copy of The Red Silk Dress.

Pen poised above the page, a personal inscription begins.

Holding The Red Silk Dress, while signing the guest book, words are added to the evening’s story.

Each dedication carries its own story, written in the quiet moments between conversations.

A moment of reflection between conversations, stories and signatures.

A tender moment.

A signed copy of The Red Silk Dress, carrying the story beyond the room.

'Her Own True Colours' from the RED Collection, resting in the Hangout at The Vintage Hotel as the evening draws towards its next beginning.

Ingela with a look that says the story is only just beginning.

A story of longing, courage and transformation, ready to begin again in another pair of hands.

As the evening draws to a close, The Vintage remains, holding the memories of a night of literature, art and conversation.

Press & Reflections

The Portugal NewsThe First Red Silk Salon:

The Portugal News

The First Red Silk Salon:

The Vintage Hotel & Spa
A 5-star oasis for inspiration, relaxation and play in Lisbon’s Príncipe Real, The Vintage brings together local craftsmanship, art, mid-century furnishings and a boutique hospitality experience shaped by the city around it.

Ingela Johansson | RED Collection
Ingela Johansson created the RED Collection in response to the emotional landscape of The Red Silk Dress, bringing the novel to life in colour, movement and form through seven original paintings.