Get the Party Started
A custom party barn from B&D Builders marries modern convenience with Old World charm to give homeowners an inviting space for special gatherings.
Every family or friend group seems to have that one location that is unofficially designated as “party central.” Throughout the course of their marriage, Vince and Mary Canzanese have been happy to have their home play that role. Whether for the holidays or a big game, the Canzaneses have thrown quite a few memorable shindigs over the years, often incorporating special touches like singers performing Christmas carols or a local chef preparing a specialized menu.
Unsurprisingly, the couple’s close friends and relatives—Mary is one of 12 kids from a “huge Irish family”—always look forward to the gatherings. That has been especially true since the Canzaneses hired B&D Builders to build a party barn that leaves a lasting impression on every guest who visits their property.
In 2016, the couple purchased 12 acres of open land in Malvern to build a new home. Around that time, they also considered adding a barn for various purposes, from storage to possibly housing animals in the future. Everything changed when they were introduced to Daniel Glick of B&D Builders, which Glick co-owns with Ben Esh.
“Daniel started showing us the projects that he does, and he does the most amazing work,” Vince recalls. “It totally changed our ideas for the barn, and we decided to make it living space. In the process of due diligence, we went to the No. 2 guy in barn building, but his craftsmanship was nothing like what was being offered from B&D—not even close.”
B&D Builders, based in Paradise, Pennsylvania, has been building its peerless reputation for more than 20 years. Glick and Esh both learned the value of hard work as children, and absorbed the ins and outs of barn construction through their families. When they started their company, they initially focused on traditional barns, but have since evolved to offer distinctive spaces such as the one they designed and built for the Canzanese family. They also specialize in equine arenas, event venues, luxury estates, and other structures for residential, commercial, and agricultural use.
Timber-frame construction for party barns has grown in popularity, and the Canzaneses were thrilled to follow the trend. Working in tandem with architects from Period Architecture, B&D Builders brought the 5,000-square-foot barn to life. The structure blends rustic charm with modern updates, and includes a comfortable sitting area next to a double-sided fireplace, a gourmet kitchen with a pizza oven and an oversized island, a game room with a bar, and a loft above the kitchen offering a beautiful bird’s-eye view of the structure. Other details include board-and-batten siding and a stone-veneer exterior, a flagstone patio, reclaimed walls and floors in the main area of the barn, cathedral ceilings, and handcrafted stone columns.
“Daniel must have shown us 15 of his projects before we started ours, and we incorporated the best of the best from what he showed us,” Vince says. “Their attention to detail was impressive. For example, at my wife’s request [Daniel] inscribed the saying ‘Give all the glory to God’ above the island in our kitchen. It looks awesome, and my wife is very happy with it.”
While the party barn can accommodate up to 130 people, it is perfect for intimate get-togethers as well. Vince and Mary have used it for everything from traditional Thanksgiving dinners and large gatherings on Christmas Eve to small parties with their closest friends on New Year’s Eve. They can even envision hosting a wedding at the barn for one of their three sons in the near future.
“The nicest part is that we don’t have to host parties in our house anymore,” Vince adds. “It’s a rustic environment so if someone’s feet are wet, it doesn’t mess up the floors. And if you don’t get everything cleaned up, there’s always tomorrow—it’s not staring you in the face.”
The couple, who rave about Glick’s dry sense of humor and easygoing demeanor, have stayed in touch with him since their project was completed. In fact, just as they had turned to previous B&D clients for guidance, they now return the favor.
“It’s nice to give them the homeowner’s perspective,” Vince says. “It was a real eye-opener and a pleasure to work with Daniel, and we try to share that.”
B&D Builders
34 S. Vintage Road
Paradise, PA 17562
(717) 687-0292
BAndDBuilders.com
34 S. Vintage Road
Paradise, PA 17562
(717) 687-0292
BAndDBuilders.com
Photo by Jana Bannan Photography
Published (and copyrighted) in Suburban Life, October 2023.
