The year was 2011 and the occasion was opening day of our 36th Bucks County Designer House and Gardens, Old Glory Farm.
Whitney Berger was just out of college with a degree in design from Philadelphia University and employed by Lux Interiors. That year Lux Interiors created a lovely Tea Room and Whitney was in its design space greeting visitors. Just around the corner, Mark Little, another designer, was in his design space, the Parlor.
Mark told us he planned to host in the parlor every Sunday afternoon; however, he was in the space on both Saturday and Sunday. Then, he began popping in several additional days a week to tidy things up a bit, always making sure to pay a visit to Whitney, who was hosting in the Tea Room on most days.
We noticed that Mark and Whitney began taking ten-minute breaks sitting out on the patio settee, obviously enjoying each other’s company. Mark asked her for a date more than once with no success. Eventually, she agreed to breakfast and go-karting and the rest, as they say, is history.
Mark, ever the romantic gentleman, decided to propose to Whitney on the grounds of Old Glory Farm, where the couple first met. When Whitney arrived, Mark was standing in the doorway holding a beautiful bouquet of red roses. He had an engagement ring in his pocket and a friend hiding behing the bushes with a camera ready in hand to photograph the event.
Mark and Whitney were married in 2013 and they were still enjoying their “honeymoon” lifestyle when Mark suffered a debilitating stroke in early 2014. After many months of therapy, he and Whitney were able to get their lives back on track. In 2019, they welcomed a baby boy, Crosby, who was the light of Mark’s life. They were a happy family enjoying their lives together when tragedy struck once more. Shortly before Christmas 2020, Mark suffered another stroke and sadly passed away on Christmas Eve. Whitney was heartbroken — she not only lost her loving husband but Crosby lost his father.
Mark provided design spaces for 10 of our houses and this would have been his 11th year. He will be missed not only for his talent but for his kindness, quick wit, easy manner and ready smile. All of us are devastated for Mark and Whitney, but will always think of them as our “Bucks County Designer House Love Story.”
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