Step Inside the 2026 Parade of Homes: Inspired Interiors Take Center Stage

The 2026 Upper Cumberland Parade of Homes is putting design in the spotlight, but behind the beautiful spaces is an organization whose work extends far beyond one weekend.

The Home Builders Association of the Upper Cumberland serves both the building industry and homeowners throughout the region. Its membership spans nearly every part of the homebuilding process, including builders, Realtors, mortgage professionals, subcontractors, suppliers, landscapers and interior designers.

Through collaboration, education and community involvement, HBAUC works to strengthen the local housing industry and support its members. The association also invests in the next generation through vocational education programs at area high schools and an endowment for students pursuing construction education at the Cookeville Higher Education Campus.

Each year, HBAUC recognizes outstanding trades students from Upper Cumberland high schools with new tools to help launch their careers. The association also supports Putnam County Habitat for Humanity through financial contributions and members who volunteer their professional skills.

The Parade of Homes brings those efforts together, giving the public an opportunity to experience the craftsmanship, expertise and creativity of local professionals.

Set for September 12 and 13, this year’s “Designer Edition” highlights the role interior design plays in transforming a house into a home. Visitors will see how color, texture, furnishings and thoughtful details can influence how a space looks, functions and feels.

Among this year’s featured designers are Suzanna and Daniel Ivey of Ivey Design Group, Ali Jane of Gilbert and Company and Melissa Halfacre of Selāh House of Design. Each brings a distinct perspective, but all three share a belief that the best spaces are personal. 

Ivey Design Group | Curated for the Client

At Ivey Design Group, Suzanna and Daniel Ivey take a highly individualized approach to luxury interiors, working closely with clients and tradespeople to create homes that tell the stories of the people living within them.

“We are committed to creating homes of curated beauty that tell each client’s story,” Ivey said. “We offer a concierge, full-service design experience and source for our projects around the globe. We pride ourselves on making every project specific to the client. Nothing is cookie-cutter.”

Their work blends contemporary, modern and traditional influences while keeping the homeowner at the center of every decision.

“We love working intimately with our clients and tradesmen to bring a vision to fruition.”

The result is a layered, collected home that feels elevated and distinctive while remaining deeply personal to the people who live there. 

Ali Jane | Gilbert and Company

For Ali Jane, that means creating spaces rooted in timeless elements while still feeling fresh and elevated.

“My design style blends timeless tradition with a fresh, elevated approach,” Jane said. “I gravitate toward classic details, rich textures, warm woods and thoughtful layers that bring depth and character to a space. I love pairing timeless foundations with subtle touches of luxury so a home feels beautiful and elevated without being overstated.”

It is often the details, she says, that make the greatest impact.

“I believe the smallest details have the power to completely transform a space and make it feel truly considered.” 

Melissa Halfacre | Selāh House of Design

For Melissa Halfacre of Selāh House of Design, the starting point is not a particular style or trend, but a feeling.

“I approach each project with an artist’s eye, and my design aesthetic is as eclectic as my clients,” Halfacre said. “I lean into the client’s lifestyle and how they want their home to feel rather than injecting any one style or trend.”

That philosophy extends beyond creating a beautiful room.

“Designing and decorating is about creating more than magazine-worthy spaces,” she said. “It is about creating an experience that feels like home to the people who live there. The perfect design is not just about what you see. It is about how the space makes you feel.”

Halfacre carries the same philosophy into commercial projects, considering the people who will use the space, the products or services offered there and the story the business wants its surroundings to tell. 

More Than a Tour of Homes

“At its core, our association is about people, competitors who become friends, businesses that support one another, and professionals who share a commitment to building a stronger community,” HBAUC President Jake Reel said.

The Fall Parade of Homes offers a chance to see that collaboration firsthand, while celebrating the craftsmanship, creativity and people behind the homes of the Upper Cumberland. 

_{-by Chelsea Dartez, photography by Abby Weeden}