The Home Builders Association of Metro Denver (HBA) today unveiled the details of the Designer Challenge, a new head-to-head design competition debuting at the 2026 Denver Parade of Homes. Two Koelbel townhomes, identical in footprint, located at 2323 and 2327 Lakeshore Lane in the Montmere at Autrey Shores community in Superior, have been transformed with two distinct design visions, each with its own personality, palette, and point of view. Parade-goers tour both homes, compare the two concepts side by side, and vote to crown the winning design.
Both homes come to life through Chelley Ganong, owner and lead designer of Divine Staging, a Denver-based home staging and interior design company specializing in vacant and occupied home staging, interior design, short-term rental design, and color consultations. For the Designer Challenge, Ganong created two complete, competing looks, one for each townhome, layering color, texture, furnishings, and lighting to give each home its own story. Known for her strategic eye and meticulous attention to detail, Ganong blends timeless design principles with a fresh, curated aesthetic, resulting in homes that feel elevated, inviting, and effortlessly livable.
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“The two townhomes share the same footprint. The Designer Challenge shows how design choices can reflect a buyer’s personality," said Carl Koelbel, CEO and president of Koelbel. "Montmere at Autrey Shores waterfront setting is one of the most special communities we’ve offered - we can't wait for Parade-goers to walk both homes, compare the two visions, and vote for their favorite.”
The setting is a showcase in itself. Located in Boulder County between Denver and Boulder with waterfront and mountain views, Montmere at Autrey Shores carries the signature “Crafted by Koelbel,” a mark that these homes come from one of Colorado’s most trusted builders. The community opens to nearly 600 acres of greenspace and miles of trails, with shopping, dining, and entertainment at Flatiron Crossing a short walk away.
Throughout both homes, visitors will find the latest in home furnishings and design from featured product partners, including custom seasonal planters and botanical displays by Seasonal Porches; a whole-home scenting system that connects to the home’s HVAC ductwork to carry fragrance evenly to every room by EverScent; full-service, maintenance-free window boxes and planters by WOW Windowboxes Denver; permanent, programmable outdoor LED lighting by JellyFish Lighting; and high-performance polyurea and polyaspartic floor coatings by Keas Concrete Coatings.
“The Designer Challenge gives Parade-goers something they’ve never had before: the chance to walk two identical homes, see how differently they can live and feel, and pick the winner themselves,” said Ted Leighty, CEO of the HBA. “It’s a must-see destination within this year’s Parade.”
The Designer Challenge is included with Parade of Homes admission and runs Thursday, Aug. 6, through Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from noon until 5 p.m. Visitors can vote for the Designer Challenge winner on the Parade’s new mobile app. In-person tour tickets are $10 early-bird through August 5, $12 from August 6 through 23, and kids 13 and under are free. A portion of every ticket supports Home Builders Foundation, a Denver-area nonprofit that builds independence and elevates lives for individuals and families with disabilities.
The Designer Challenge anchors a Parade that stretches across neighborhoods throughout Metro Denver and into the peaks of Grand County, where attendees can tour new mountain homes in Winter Park and Fraser. Produced by the HBA, the self-guided showcase invites visitors to explore the latest trends, innovative designs, and cutting-edge technology shaping new homes and communities across the region, whether they're shopping for a new home on the Front Range, seeking inspiration for their dream home, or simply indulging in the art of home design.
The full slate of participating home builders and communities, plus home details and tickets, can be found here and on the Parade's new mobile app, which you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Sponsors of the 2026 Denver Parade of Homes are Pella Windows & Doors of Denver and Northern Colorado, Builders FirstSource, Ent Credit Union, Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, One Call Rentals, Fusion Sign & Design, Top Rail Fence, Heritage Title Company, and EverScent.
