Meet Danielle Hepko, a Senior Designer and Project Manager whose background beautifully blends art, fashion, and business. Holding a degree with focuses in Fashion Design, Painting & Drawing, and Business Administration, Danielle brings a wealth of creative expertise to her role.
Q: How did you find your way to Amlings?
Danielle: Molly Morettes and I have known each other for about 15 years—we studied fashion design together in college. During COVID, I was laid off from my role as an operational warehouse manager at a Chicago-based luxury consignment company and was trying to figure out my next step.
Around that time, Molly reached out and asked if I’d be interested in exploring a new opportunity in design.
The answer was an immediate yes. After spending six years in a more business-focused role, away from the creative work I had originally trained for, I was ready for a change.
Molly also knew that I had developed a passion for plants during the pandemic. Like many people, I brought a few plants into my home while spending more time indoors, and that interest quickly grew into a hobby.
The opportunity at Amlings turned out to be the perfect fit—it allowed me to reconnect with my creative background while combining it with a newfound passion for plants.
Q: A common thread among Amlings employees is a shared love of art. What about you?
Danielle: At my core, I’m an artist—and I always will be. Creativity has been the common thread throughout my career and personal life, and I’ve always loved working with my hands, making things, and bringing ideas to life.
In college, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Design, Painting & Drawing, and Business Administration. From the beginning, I was drawn to both the creative and practical sides of design. I enjoy the artistic process, but I’m equally interested in how ideas are developed, executed, and brought to market.
Q: Did creativity run in your family?
Danielle: Absolutely. Creativity and building things have always been a part of my life. My mom works at a local university, but she has also spent her life pursuing creative outlets through painting, music, and photography. My dad spent many years working as a general contractor throughout the Chicagoland area, managing construction projects in both commercial buildings and residential homes.
Creating, building, and fixing things—it’s definitely in my blood.
Even now, I’m always working on some kind of project. I’m constantly finding ways to improve and remodel my condo. That said, one of my New Year’s resolutions was to slow down a bit and be more mindful about taking on so many projects at once. I enjoy staying busy, but I’m also learning the value of stepping back and appreciating the progress that’s already been made.
Q: What’s the latest DIY home project you tackled?
Danielle: I recently replastered my entire shower with a concrete finish inspired by a trip to Morocco. I fell in love with the clean, warm aesthetic of the homes and realized I could recreate a similar look in my own space. What started as a simple idea turned into a three-week project, but at least I was able to achieve the transformation without having to demolish everything.
Q: I hear your husband is in a related field, kind of?
Danielle: He studied history and education and now works as a preschool teacher at the Chicago Botanic Garden. It’s a nature-based outdoor school, so the kids spend their days outside exploring and learning, whether it’s raining, snowing, or sunny.
It’s funny—despite taking very different paths, we’ve both ended up in careers connected to nature and plants.
Q: What did your career look like before Amlings?
Danielle: I worked multiple jobs, mostly in retail, until I landed my first position in costume construction.
The company was an independent Chicago-based business operating in a very niche industry. They specialized in creating mascot costumes, custom character pieces, and accessories for major conventions such as Anime Central and Comic-Con. I worked under a designer and helped construct everything the company sold.
After leaving that role, I transitioned back into the luxury fashion industry, focusing on logistics and operations. I’ve always loved the idea of secondhand fashion and have been an active member of the thrift and resale community for years, but this was an entirely different world. I had the opportunity to work with designer and luxury pieces that I never would have had access to otherwise.
Q: What’s your philosophy on biophilic design?
Danielle: Plants bring a calming, grounding element to a space. Most people don’t consciously think about why a room feels comfortable or inviting, but plants play an important role in creating that atmosphere. In my opinion, that’s what good design does—it works quietly in the background.
People may not always notice when plants are present, but they definitely notice when they’re missing. And when plants look unhealthy or neglected, it can become a distraction. A well-designed space should feel effortless and natural.
Q: Do you have a favorite Amlings project?
Danielle: One of my favorite projects was the lobby at 155 N. Wacker. It was a relatively simple project—the space only needed four plants and a few coffee table arrangements—but every detail mattered.
I found these incredible planters from Restoration Hardware that felt like they were made for the space. The only problem was that there were just two left in the entire company, and they were sitting in a suburban showroom.
I called the store and convinced them to sell them to us, but I had to pick them up myself. Each planter was 38 inches tall, and I drive a small hatchback.
Somehow, I managed to fit both of them inside.
Q: Do you still paint?
Danielle: I do, but mostly for myself now.
Right after college, I participated in a few shows, but somewhere along the way I lost some of that momentum. For a long time, I didn’t have a dedicated studio space, which made it harder to consistently create.
Now I have a small studio beneath my condo where I can paint, work on furniture projects, and bring all of my DIY ideas to life. Having that space has made a huge difference.
Q: Where do you find inspiration?
Danielle: Everywhere.
I’m constantly looking at sources like Architectural Digest and Vogue. Fashion and interior design have so much overlap—trends, textures, color palettes, materials, and proportions all influence one another.
I also travel whenever I can. Seeing how different cultures incorporate plants and design into everyday life is incredibly inspiring.
In Hawaii, for example, bromeliads are everywhere. Here, we often treat them as special accent plants, but there they’re simply part of the landscape. Seeing that completely changes your perspective and makes you think differently about how plants can exist within a space.
I also spent a few weeks in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, and I was fascinated by the olive trees growing everywhere. Seeing how plants naturally grow, how people interact with them, and how they become part of the environment around the world gives me endless inspiration.
Q: What continues to inspire you after all these years in creative fields?
Danielle: I simply love beautiful things.
Whether it’s fashion, interiors, architecture, art, or plants, I enjoy getting lost in something that’s thoughtfully designed and visually compelling.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Danielle for sharing her inspirations, her creative journey, and her dedication to the Amlings team. Her unique approach to biophilic design seamlessly brings the calming elements of nature into everyday commercial spaces. Thank you, Danielle, for your continued service, your artistic vision, and for everything you do to make our environments feel natural and inviting!