who we are

We are informed rebels, dream chasers, design chameleons, compassionate thinkers, daring doers.

Established in 2020 by Heylen Thienes, Tricorn Black is a design studio known for creating layered interiors that often feel subliminally rebellious. Deeply curious about the world and those in it, we are real people who enjoy working with real people. We listen, learn from, and parlay their stories into rich spaces that are concept-driven and immaculately delivered.

With a focus on private residences, restaurants, and hospitality design, our work spans a wide aesthetic range— from serene to spirited— to reflect our clients’ personalities, while retaining our signature touch. We most recently wrapped the design for Top Chef alum Brian Malarkey’s second Oregon restaurant, The Malarkey, a 10,000sf restaurant in the Pearl in Portland.

Putting our heart and soul into all we do, we’re known for not running from a challenge, taking things head-on with our whole selves; after all, anything worth doing is worth doing right.

what leads us

People over everything

Ever welcoming and informative, we act as your trusted guides; never dictating, always discovering. By keeping people at the forefront, we’ve built a process that is collaborative, thoughtful, and yes, actually fun.

Impeccable Standards

Always prepared and two steps ahead, we leave nothing to chance. We take your trust in us seriously and ensure that our design plans are as detailed as our to-do lists, so that nothing slips through the cracks.

Boundless Imagination

We believe that to create is to play, so we color outside the lines. Filled with infinite curiosity, we lean into rebellion to see possibility in all things, forging new design languages along the way that are filled with enthusiasm for people and their spaces.

Mindful Empathy

We create spaces that evoke emotion, designing environments that resonate and respond deeply with those who inhabit them, inviting interaction. We dig deep to understand our clients' perspectives and translate their histories, favorite things, and lives into thoughtfully layered spaces.

Curious Intuition

We see the potential in a barren space and know just how to fill it with creativity, character, and consideration. As design chameleons, we shapeshift into your aesthetic, while always bringing our unmistakable eye to every project.

Pursuit of Meaning

We bring impact and intention to our projects, even when playing within a neutral palette. Known for not running from a challenge, we take things head-on and put our heart and soul into all that we do, knowing that anything worth doing is worth doing right.

Meet Heylen

Heylen

Founder & Creative Director

Heylen is not known for doing things halfway. No, she prefers to dive in, go deep, and not stop until the best solution is found. It’s this skill and tenacity that have driven her career and led her to found Tricorn Black, where she can create immersive design experiences for her clients.

With her formative years spent admiring the intricate architectural details and artistry of the buildings in South America and Europe, Heylen brings a historical depth of knowledge and appreciation that informs each one of her designs. Pulling from her own storied life experiences, she knows that people are more than just their current states, with past lives, nostalgic references, and layered experiences that blend together to make them unique. This story-driven philosophy is applied to every detail of her designs, from material and color selections to textural palettes, culminating in spaces that reflect her clients and engage people’s senses.

Involved at every stage of the design process, she immerses herself in the concept to develop it in a way that stays true to the vision, yet leaves space for inspiration and curiosity.

Design Cred

London College of Communication, University of the Arts — London, UK, Bachelor of Arts in Design for Publishing

Heritage School of Interior Design — Portland, Oregon, Masters in Interior Design

For the Curious Cats

Places I’ve called home: Bogota, London, Paris, Bend

My accent: A fantastical blend of British English with Colombian and American flare

In a previous life: I was a graphic designer

In a different life: I would design movie and theater sets

Favorite thing to do: Travel and take pictures while at it

Favorite song: The Zephyr Song

Favorite movie: The Darjeeling Limited

Favorite paint color: Tricorn Black, naturally

Meet Heylen

Meet Our Team

Karen Cooley

Design Assistant

Karen brings her background in corporate creative direction to our team, along with expertise in color, print, and trend development. She combines a refined eye for detail with a passion for storytelling through design.

For the curious cats:

Favorite thing to do: I love thrifting and vintage shopping anywhere from estate sales to Ebay. My current obsession is finding pre-owned Ralph Lauren for me or my son.

Favorite place: New York City, my hometown.

Favorite paint color: Anything by Farrow and Ball.

Daley Smith

Design Operations

With a decade of management experience and a balance of creativity and analytical thinking, Daley is equal parts problem solver and strategist, keeping our projects running seamlessly from concept to completion.

For the curious cats:

Favorite thing to do: Be outside

Favorite movie: Lord of the Rings or Pride and Prejudice

Favorite paint color: Sherman Williams Deep Sea Dive

Press Features

Want to see what we can do for your space? Let‘s Connect.