'My little sanctuary': Meet the Irish dollhouse enthusiasts who are big on miniatures

Miniaturists, or dollhouse fans, have a huge online following and dollhouses are very 'big' right now

Miniatures and dollhouses are enjoying a resurgence in popularity with adults and children

So many of us have tackled tidying or renovation or decorating projects during the past couple of years — and some have even fully kitted out several entire homes. Of course, it's a different story when these houses and everything in them are on a 1:12 scale. Meet some miniaturists who have houses that at first glance you might think are actual furniture store showrooms or are for rent on property sites.

Miniaturism or dollhouse projects are having a bit of a moment. Channel 4's More 4 has just started a new competitive dollhouse series, The Great Big Tiny Design Challenge with Sandi Toksvig. And you can go down a beautifully appointed and decorated rabbit hole of miniatures on Instagram or TikTok.This show challenges designers to renovate an entire derelict mansion, inspired by real-world designs: "The catch is that the luxury fantasy home they must renovate is doll-sized. Whilst the projects may be tiny, the task is huge. Our cast of miniacs (people who create all things miniature) will be set a series of challenges to test their design and practical skills."