Thirty Under 30: Hayden Bolin

By Donna Heiderstadt

From a self-motivated entrepreneur with her own handmade jewelry collection to a talented interior designer whose spaces are often called “magazine worthy,” 29-year-old Hayden Bolin has forged a career path by embracing her superb eye for detail. As a Residential Designer at Farmersville, TX-based Tracy’s Custom Homes, Hayden has established herself as one of the firm’s star talents. Hired in 2023 after interning there while pursuing formal design training at nearby Collin College, she has in just three-and-a-half years completed more than 100 custom home plans and 20 remodels, ranging from 400 to 10,000 square feet.

Admired for her creativity, technical expertise, and ability to transform her clients’ visions into attractive and functional homes, Hayden listens deeply to a homeowner’s ideas and then elevates them into incredibly beautiful spaces that exceed expectations. She manages anywhere from seven to 17 projects at a time — “My clients are mine start to finish so I get full creative control of all the plans I work on,” she says — and she has also taken on a teaching role for the company’s new designers and interns. Because of her experience and professionalism, Hayden was invited in 2025 to serve on the Collin College Advisory Board for their Interior Design program.

Surprisingly, Hayden didn’t originally set out to be a designer. She was on a science track and majored in biology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock until a relocation to Plano, TX after she got married, coupled with memories of decorating her room as a child, pulled her toward design — and kitchens and baths in particular. “The kitchen and bath industry satisfies the math and problem-solving side of my brain while also allowing me to be creative with choosing tiles, countertops, paints, flooring, etc.,” she explains.

Describing herself as “curious,” Hayden says she has a fondness for the dark stained woods and moody colors of Gothic and Tudor architecture, which she admittedly doesn’t get to indulge in very often. “But when I do get to use small pieces, such as Tudor arches, stained glass, or groin vaults, I think it adds so much character to a space,” she says.

Married for seven years to her high-school sweetheart Derek, who is a pilot for Southwest Airlines, Hayden says she manages a work-life balance by logging extra hours while he’s away so they can spend time together when he’s home. In her free time, she likes to hang out with their two cats, Mister and Miss, as well as read fantasy books, play games (especially mahjong), go hiking and backpacking, and travel. “I’ve now traveled to 15 countries!” she says, noting that Scotland and Portugal have been favorites. “Travel has opened my mind to new perspectives and shown me a love for quality craftsmanship and historical architecture.”

Looking ahead, Hayden aspires to establish her own interior design firm with a focus on floor plans and historic restoration. Her other goals: Own a historic home, visit at least 100 countries, and take a National Geographic expedition cruise to Antarctica.