In her conversation with KBB’s From the Tap, Summer Jensen highlighted something many homeowners never consider: the most harmful materials in a home are often the ones we never see.
She explains that if you walk onto a job site and see someone wearing a mask, that’s a sign. Paints, adhesives, carpets, composite materials, and even certain types of drywall release toxins long after installation. In fact, up to 50% of the dust inside a home originates from its building materials.
This is why Summer begins every new project by asking her clients a deceptively simple question:
“Would you like a toxic home or a non-toxic home?”
Not surprisingly, no one chooses the first option. But most are unaware of what’s actually in the materials around them.
For clients in coastal communities like Newport Beach, Dana Point, and Venice, where ocean air and natural light are central to the lifestyle, Summer emphasizes natural, non-composite materials that can biodegrade or be responsibly recycled at the end of their life.
She avoids petrochemical-based composites, synthetics, and materials with multiple layers of glue, coatings, and backing, especially carpets, which she calls “a material nightmare” because of their chemical makeup.
Instead, she looks for:
- Natural stones sourced within 500 miles
- Material scraps or offcuts from local stone yards
- Hand-built furniture using traditional joinery (dowels, dovetails)
- Low-toxicity waterproofing systems such as Schluter KERDI
- Flooring and underlayments with transparent material data
The result? Homes that feel luxurious, healthy, and connected to their natural surroundings—proof that sustainability and comfort are not mutually exclusive.
Content inspired by:
From the Tap – A KBB Podcast: How Sustainability & Luxury Can Coexist in Design – A Talk with Summer Jensen (Apr 2, 2025)
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