Episode 16: Chris Petersen
What if you could hold your memories in your hands?
In this episode of Tiny Worlds, Big Stories, I sit down with Chris Petersen of Scale Model Homes—an artist and craftsman who creates incredibly detailed miniature replicas of people’s homes. But these aren’t just houses… they’re vessels for memory, grief, love, and legacy.
Chris shares how a childhood box of wooden blocks turned into a second career after decades as a healthcare executive—and how he taught himself to design architectural models using laser cutting and software (including a now-discontinued tool he refuses to give up).
We talk about:
The emotional power of recreating childhood homes
Why people cry when they receive their miniature houses
The challenge of turning architecture into art
His process—from Google searches to laser-cut precision
What happens when a custom commission doesn’t go as planned
The most meaningful builds he’s ever created (including homes lost to fire and models that hold ashes)
This conversation is about more than miniatures—it’s about memory, identity, and the places that shape us.
✨ If you’ve ever loved a home, lost a home, or longed to hold onto a moment—you’ll feel this one.
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🔗 Find Chris:
scalemodelhomes.com
@scalemodelhomes
