Nikiya was born and raised in Nevada County. She left the area several times in pursuit of higher learning and broader seeing, but felt the pull to return home post studies, a pull that has its roots in the Yuba River watershed. She is an interior editor and stylist, a certified Feng Shui practitioner, a third generation metalsmith, a holistic counselor and a mother. She harbors a lifelong passion for spaces and a special affinity for elementally inspired designs and handmade houses. She is especially intrigued by the interface of nature and culture as well as the tiny things that sit on window sills and bedside tables.