Occupation: I own i.DESIGN., which is a design studio. We deliver unique interior and exterior design solutions for residential and small commercial establishments. I graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design. This is my second career. I was a pediatric physical therapist before.

Family: I’m married to Edwin deWit. He works for Boehringer-Ingelheim in Danbury. We have three children. Casper is 11; and our twin girls, Merije and Maud, are 9 years old.

Pets: We do have a parakeet, Misty; and a bunny, Bolly. He was a little round fluffy ball when we got him and “Boll” is Dutch for a fluffy ball.

How long have you been in Newtown? We moved to America from the Netherlands in 2002, and we moved to Newtown from New London in September of 2009.

What do you like to do in your free time? I like to be creative. I make sculptures out of fabric and bronze them. I like to reuse materials. I like to read. And I’m there for the children, of course, the first thing. The children are involved in a lot, so we do a lot of driving. I try to keep fit by running, and to clear my head.

Do you have a favorite book? I like a lot of different authors. I recently read The Glass Castle and Three Cups of Tea.

Do you have a favorite travel destination? I was born in Germany and moved to the Netherlands when I was 11, so I have been to many countries in the world. Before we had children, we went to South Africa, to Botswana and Zimbabwe. We went to Ecuador and climbed part of the Inca Trail. And I’ve been to Sri Lanka, and have visited almost all of the countries in Europe. My wish is to be able to take our kids on an extended vacation to South America, to experience different cultures. I think it’s important for their life experience, to see that there are different ways to live your life. I’m always interested in seeing how people use materials in their world. I’ve learned a lot by traveling and try to incorporate that into my designs.

What is the best thing about Newtown? The community feel, even though the town is so stretched out. I like the way the buildings are utilized for public use, like the library and the town hall. It has a picturesque feel. I like all of the organizations. There is always something going on.

Who do you admire? I admire Gaudi. He was a 19th Century Catalonian architect. He’s my inspiration. He took a lot from the details of nature and used them in an architectural way.

Do you have a personal philosophy? Be honest, inviting, and warm; and start with an open page when you talk with people. Don’t be judgmental. Learn from other peoples’ perspectives. It always enriches you.

What makes you happy? I like to be with family and friends and enjoy the time with them. I can also really enjoy walking through the forest and seeing all of the different colors and textures around me, or seeing the play of colors in the sky. That makes me happy inside.