When Anissa Zajac purchased a 1940s cottage in Indianapolis two years ago, she saw it as a short-term reset.

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“It was transitional for me,” says the House Seven Design founder, who was navigating life after a divorce. But over the course of an 18-month renovation, it became something more meaningful—both a home base for her three daughters, who lovingly dubbed it “the girls’ clubhouse,” and a deeply personal design experiment. “It allowed me to show what I can do when no one says no,” she reflects. For Anissa, that meant transforming every square inch of each room.”That’s when a project feels truly finished.”

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The kitchen alone is a study in high-impact details. Heavily veined marble (sourced from the designer’s favorite woman-run stone yard in Chicago) clads the counters, backsplash, range wall, and even the window casing. “It was a huge investment,” she admits. “But it’s one of the first things potential clients notice, and I wanted to showcase what was possible.” At the center of the room, a compact vintage table—originally a stand-in for an island—earned a permanent spot. “It’s a more European vibe to gather around a table in a kitchen,” she says of the setup.

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Through a pocket door, the dining room and adjacent living room are swathed in a raffia wallcovering by Schumacher—a choice Anissa loves for how it creates texture, while still feeling neutral. Mulberry’s charming Flying Ducks wallpaper covers the dining room ceiling, rounding out the space with a cocoon-like warmth.

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In the living room, the fireplace sits between a large window and the entryway hall. To balance the asymmetry, Anissa floated the furniture, which was 80 percent new, 20 percent vintage, and opted for tall freestanding cabinets instead of built-ins. Meanwhile, lower shutters on the windows preserve privacy while letting light in.

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Off the dining room is a moody blue den, where a well-proportioned sectional tucks snugly into the tight space. “This is more of a conversation room,” says Anissa, who hosts frequent family dinners and wanted “spaces people could congregate and be comfortable in.” She painted every surface, from trim to ceiling, in saturated color—a recurring strategy throughout the house that makes even small spaces, like the oxblood-tiled shower on the first floor, feel immersive.

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Anissa’s penchant for layering is on full display in the bedrooms. Her own is dressed in rich burgundy and velvety browns, with wallpaper encasing the walls and ceiling. Her youngest daughter’s room is a quieter palette of pinks and creams, finished with painted paneling. The older girls took over the upstairs, which includes an additional bathroom where the shower is wrapped floor to ceiling in bands of green and white tile. “It took my contractor literally a week and a half,” she remembers. “But every single line is perfect.”

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Downstairs, the basement is a multifunctional retreat. A built-in bunk area with checkered bedding and individual reading sconces became a designated family sleepover zone. Just beyond, a secondary living area, anchored by a floral sofa and striped armchairs, features custom open shelving in a warm putty tone styled with ceramic vessels, small-scale art, and woven baskets.

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Though Anissa recently handed over the keys to new owners, the house stands as her calling card. “I think we left it way better than we found it,” she says.

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