Nikki Goloskov Dalrymple ’97 Blends Storytelling, Service, and Style

Today, Nikki divides her time between Massachusetts and South Carolina, leading residential design projects across the country as the founder and creative director of her firm, ACQUIRE, which she established in 2008. Known for artfully arranging vintage influences with contemporary design, Nikki gravitates toward big scale and frank color, organic materials and textures, and contemporary art layered with antique furnishings and found objects. Her work has been featured in Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Travel and Leisure, Boston Magazine, New England Home Magazine, The Boston Globe, and The Associated Press. 

Reflecting on her time at WFS, Nikki points to the lasting impact of Friends’ values. “I think Friends’ emphasis on integrity and reflection were important lessons I took with me,” she said. “We were encouraged to think deeply about our values and responsibilities to others.” She also credits Meeting for Worship with shaping how she approaches the world. “Meeting for Worship taught me to slow down, listen carefully, and consider different perspectives before reacting or forming judgments.”

Nikki says WFS instilled in her a strong sense of social responsibility. “WFS taught me the value of service, and that all people deserve equitability and dignity,” she says, values she continues to carry forward through her family’s charitable and nonprofit involvement.

After graduating from WFS, Nikki attended Bates College, where she majored in sociology. While there, she played field hockey briefly, mentored elementary-aged children through Big Brothers Big Sisters, and began interning at a local PBS station. Those early experiences helped her build a portfolio and launch an initial career in documentary film.

“My experience at WFS prepared me for life after high school by teaching me to ask big questions and to be comfortable with the idea that sometimes the question itself matters more than the answer,” Nikki said. That habit of inquiry guided her work in documentary film and continues to inform her approach to interior design today. “I try to understand how people live, and what will make a space truly impactful for them.”

Sports were also a meaningful part of Nikki’s WFS experience, and she credits coach Anne Brooking as a lasting influence. “Her coaching style, equal parts demanding and encouraging, made a lasting impact on me.”

When asked for advice for today’s WFS seniors, Nikki emphasized connection and service. “I would encourage seniors after graduation to look for opportunities to help others, and to intentionally build a sense of community,” she says. “In a world where personal interaction is increasingly rare, those authentic connections are more important than ever.”