* editor’s note: please welcome new contributor, los angeles-based photographer lily glass who’s joining the sfgirlbybay team this week and will be sharing lots of L.A. goodness!

today we visit Alchemy Works, a unique retail experience nestled on the bustling East 3rd street in Arts District of Los Angeles. Founded by Lindsay Parton, this well-­curated space sits just a few doors down from her husband’s store Apolis (more on that shop soon!), and offers a range of lovely printed material, apparel, household items and handmade gifts. grab a cup of joe at blacktop coffee which sits at Alchemy’s front entrance and also browse a wide collection of warby parker frames in the back corner. with the amazing selection and gorgeous layout of her first shop, we can’t wait to see what Lindsay has in store for her new locations coming to venice and orange county later this year.

• all photographs by lily glass.

i received an email this week from bay area photographer ryan tatar, and his gorgeous images of surf culture inspired me to do a little round-up of mid-century, vintage modern meets surf style. i always feel like the two go hand in hand, the aesthetic of both cultures colliding seems a natural one to me. this was fun — thanks so much for sharing your work, ryan. you never know where unexpected inspiration will come from, just when you may need it most.

vintage industrial stool from urge studio; maria reme photography; vintage cottage blankets from luna park foundry; vintage foot stool from trampoline; vintage record cabinet from hindsvik; ione skye’s bedroom via domino.

petra bindel; lonny magazine; petra bindel dining room; and vintage metal patio chairs via robin thom.

• top image: ryan tatar and massucco warner miller chandelier.

one friend is off to bali. another is off to costa rica for surfing lessons. damn, why why why, can’t the beaches in san francisco be sunny and warm? we have a lot to be grateful for up here in the north, it’s true. but a wee bit of warmth in the summer isn’t too much to ask, is it? i spy surf style today, and fantasizing about fun in the sun.

the design files; Arthur Umanoff Chair for Raymor, via pierson modern; love this comfy curl up and read chair via Lo Bjurulf photography, agent bauer; and i love the look of these viva terra recycled glass balloon vases.

i want to crawl into this canopy bed at mildred’s lane, from somethings hiding in here; some super summery stripes from Dörnveek Märkkstyrn; i love the look of this laid back patchwork-like chair, from CONFETTI GARDEN; and pretty wooden rings from bliss in a teacup.

• top image via lindsey lieu.

donna reed and grain surboards.

i’d like to at least pretend that warm summer days are soon upon us (those of us in san francisco know that june really means lots and lots of chilly fog). so i thought we’d hit the surf, or sit poolside in this sunny version of separated at birth. we can at least fantasize about getting that coppertone tan.

the parker palm springs and marilyn monroe.

tuesday weld and lonny.

houzz and mom’s basement.

fbrinsley and natalie wood.

sally field (aka gidget) and the selby.

natalie wood and traditional home.

sweet sassafras and paola navone via design boom.

while jen’s away, i got to play! visit me over on indie fixx today for a little summer guest blogging!

via mikael olsson.

it was super warm and sunny here this weekend and everyone was running around the city barely clothed. we san Franciscans tend to do that – the second the fog lifts and there’s even a spot of sunshine, out come the flip flops, the skimpy dresses and sunscreen. i thought for this tuesday’s girl we’d look at the carefree chic of surfer style. i think it’s more of mindset and mental attitude than anything, and perhaps we all have an inner gidget lurking in there somewhere.

sfgirlbybay; henrik halvarsson; and also henrik halvarsson.

marcus ohlsson.

amy butler and sfgirlbybay.

choka; girlhula; choka; and imdb.

wild goose chase.

imdb.

roxy girl.

liz lantz photography for choka.

Lou O’ Bedlam.

tdrae; imdb; John_Wilkinson; and sfgirlbybay.

somethings hiding in.

roxy girl.

*n*o*o*r*.

i grew up in the san fernando valley, just over the hills from malibu. i spent many more days ditching school than i probably should share, loading up my mum’s country squire station wagon with boys, boards and beach towels. so when i saw chris brown’s latest blog, i instantly fell in love. chris is the editor/writer of refuled magazine, and his new site choka, is loaded with many great beach and surf inspired photographs and stories of summer. choka, a surf term for ‘bitchin’, awesome, cool’, etc., is dedicated to surf, skate & snow. c’mon, catch the choka wave.

A long while back, a few summers ago, I posted about the carefree style that one might call surfer chic…very bohemian modern, sleek and super casual. I though I’d do a remix on that post, one featuring hues of soft seafoam and aqua blues, and green — the colors of fun in the sun. I’ve always thought about how the mid-century modern look is a great complement to the mod, surf style of the 60’s. The sleek lines of the furniture seem to jive well with the lean look of a long board, or the motif of some cool surfer jams. Artwork like Matte Stephen’s blends together in a cool, grab-me-the-bongos and light the bonfire, kinda way. I put together a montage of that casual surfer-chic aesthetic, just for some summer fun. Put on some Pet Sounds and take a look.

fab amy butler prints and patterns.

Some good resources for the carefree, but upbeat California look are Urban Outfitters, Beach House Style, perhaps a Nelson Bench or a Saarinen coffee table or tulip chair from DWR or some funky, fun prints from Amy Butler. And designers like Orla Kiely, Wary Meyers and Todd Oldham have subtle bits of surf culture written all over them. Inspiration comes from everywhere. Hang ten, catch a wave, cowabunga and all that!

urban outfitters blu dot console cabinet.

dwr saarinen tulip chairs.

matte stephens’ admiral seymour.

urban outfitters aquavision sofa.

I’ve been thinking about how the mid-century modern look is a great compliment to the mod, surf style of the 60’s. The sleek lines of the furniture seem to jive well with the lean look of a long board, or the motif of some cool surfer jams. Artwork like Matte Stephen’s blends together in a cool, grab-me-the-bongos and light the bonfire, kinda way. I put together a montage of that casual surfer-chic aesthetic, just for some summer fun. Put on some Pet Sounds and take a look.

Some good resources for the carefree, but upbeat California look are Urban Outfitters, Beach House Style, perhaps a Nelson Bench or a Saarinen coffee table from DWR or some funky, fun print lamps from Design Public. And designers like Orla Kiely, Wary Meyers and Todd Oldham have surf culture written all over them. Inspiration comes from everywhere. Hang ten.

Sources for montage images: Lamps are from Design Public; 1971 Poster via iso50; mid-century End Table from Urban Outfitters; Double Sided Vivien print by Matte Stephen’s; fabrics from Amy Butler.

For a larger look, visit my flickr photos.