Meet the Designer Behind These Incredibly Expensive Tiny Homes
A miniature house made by Chris Toledo can go for $200,000. Though that’s costlier than many full-sized homes in America, his work leaves no detail untouched—from real gold chandeliers to working electric lights. Each house is meant to serve as a collectible heirloom.
Toledo was born, raised, and currently lives in Los Angeles, the city that informs much of his work. His miniatures are all done in a 1/12 (or 1:1) scale, based on the early 20th-century architecture and design found in Southern California. “From the revival mansions of Hancock Park to the romantic villas from the Old Hollywood period, this city never ceases to inspire,” says Toledo.
The exteriors of Toledo’s homes include highly stylized details, such as landscaping and outdoor lighting.
Miniatures may be having a moment, but Toledo has been creating pieces since he was a child who found a copy of Nutshell News magazine in a doctor’s office. The magazine was dedicated solely to the craft of dollhouses and miniatures. “My only knowledge of dollhouses at the time was pink plastic dream houses for a tall blonde whose name we all know; this was completely different,” he says. He became mesmerized by the meticulous structures that encompassed every medium he loved: woodworking, sewing, painting, interior design, architecture, and history. “That very same year I asked for my first dollhouse kit for Christmas, and it began a true love affair.”
Toledo’s design begins with a sketch, which then turns into a 3D rendering. To build his houses, he uses similar tools one would use to build full-sized models.
Toledo’s process is not for the slapdash. He starts with a sketch, then progresses to a 3D rendering; finally, he begins the construction process using many of the same tools one would use to build full-sized models. “The final touch I add to all my pieces is the element of aging and wear—from rust and grime on a bathroom sink to scuffs along the walls and areas that would typically see natural wear. I believe this is what truly gives my pieces a soul and that extra touch of realism I strive for in every piece.”
Toledo strives to add final touches that will enhance his work: rust and grime on a bathroom sink, scuffs along the walls and areas that would typically see natural wear.
Just peek at Toledo’s Instagram feed and you’ll see that his finished miniatures are often showcased with whimsical life-sized objects—perhaps a pair of spectacles, a toothbrush, or a bulb of garlic. He says, “I love to play with this idea of scale to showcase just how small some of these pieces are and the details within them. To do this I will usually place my hand in the photos or a life-sized object to contrast the scales. Another reason I do this is because many times, my pieces can be so realistic that people have no clue they’re even looking at a miniature.” His current project, in collaboration with fellow miniature artist June Clinkscales, is a commissioned Gilded Age home for the client’s childhood imaginary mouse named Philoneus J. Crumbsnatcher. “This also means that every detail throughout the house, including artwork and architectural elements, [will] be mouse-themed.”
Toledo says that although every time he finishes a new piece it becomes his favorite, the project closest to his heart is his Casa California. “It’s my love letter to the city that fuels my inspiration.”