With no detail overlooked, no matter how small, Bridget McCarty has dedicated her career to recreating some of the most iconic TV and movie sets in miniature form. From Stranger Things, Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory to Indiana Jones and Harry Potter, Bridget's tiny sets are as fascinating as they are intricate.

We discover where it all began, and find out how Bridget turned her quirky hobby into a thriving business.

Click or scroll on as we take a look inside...

Bridget's love for dollhouse miniatures started in her early 20s. "I always had a passion for miniatures but I didn’t really see it as a trending hobby, or something a lot of young people were doing," she says. "I questioned myself a lot, mostly about why I was putting so much time into it. But it was the only thing that I really enjoyed." Bridget soon began selling her tiny creations on Etsy, for around $60. "I also started getting commissioned to make miniature replicas of people's dogs."

Bridget made everything from tiny furniture to faux food and even elaborate Christmas and Halloween miniatures that people could buy and add to their own dollhouses. Then she branched out into tiny scenes, like this adorable tiki bar. This piece is 1:12 scaled and Bridget made most of the elements herself, either by hand or using a 3D printer. She created the totem pole by sculpting and painting Crayola Air-Dry Clay – a cheap and accessible craft product. 

Bridget also dabbled in miniature elements from famous movies and TV shows, such as these super-cute replicas of Book from Hocus Pocus. But it was only when a friend spotted the potential in her designs that Bridget began considering recreating entire full TV and movie sets. "My long-time friend thought it would be a great idea if I made famous movie scenes in miniature," Bridget says. "He suggested something like Scarface, but I wasn’t sure if that was the right fit for me."

Initially, Bridget wasn't drawn to the idea. She quickly forgot about the suggestion and carried on with her Etsy makes and miniature scenes – we personally love this Mexican kitchen scene, which Bridget created in 2015, using items she had made or collected over the years. Then, while watching Friends one day, Bridget suddenly felt inspired. "I thought, why not create a set from a sitcom that I really like and that everyone can relate to?" 

Bridget's first foray into miniature TV sets was a small but intricate version of the Central Perk coffee store from Friends. Complete with the iconic orange sofa, giant coffee cups and replica wall art, the set even features a minute Marcel the monkey – an element that was easy for Bridget, thanks to her years of experience making tiny pets. You might also spot a tiny TV playing footage from the show. However, this element wasn't made by Bridget... 

The tiny Friends TV was purchased at Walmart for around $25. These novelty tiny TVs have become popular with dollhouse makers and the manufacturer, Tiny TV Classics, has released versions for The Big Bang Theory, Family Guy, Batman, Back to the Future, Jurassic Park and many more. Amazingly, you can change the channel and volume on each. With a new passion and plenty of inspiration, Bridget set about deciding what to create next...

As well as being a huge fan of Friends, Bridget also loves The Big Bang Theory, so her next creation was a mini version of the Comic Center of Pasadena, from the popular TV show. "I like to create sets of TV shows I'm into," she explains. "Sometimes I think back to the shows I’ve always loved and write a list for future projects. I start with a lot of reference photos and try to watch whatever movie or TV show I’m making. Then, I look for a room box I can put it in."

Purpose-built room boxes are available to buy from craft supply stores and eBay. Once she's found a suitable box, Bridget begins with the floors and walls, referring back to images and videos as she works. These images show two of the elements that went into the comic book store set. On the outside of her room box, Bridget created a replica of the broken elevator from outside Penny and Sheldon's apartments. The door opens to reveal the comic store inside...

The finished result can be seen here. Complete with minute comic books, shelving, memorabilia and the store's iconic lime green walls, this Big Bang Theory set is incredibly detailed. "The comic books were all custom, printed and folded by me. It took a long time – maybe a week," Bridget tells us. The poster box, which lies by the store's faux front door, was made from an old cardboard jewelry gift box that Bridget had lying around the house. She stood it up, spray painted it and added Batman images she printed at home. Watch the transformation here.

Then, in December 2021, not long after Friends: The Reunion hit our screens, Bridget took to Instagram to tease her followers about her latest big (so to speak) project. She posted this simple image, but her fans went wild. Not only did the image tease that another miniature Friends set was on its way, but it gave Bridget's followers insight into how her sets are put together. Spoiler alert: it takes a lot of work and attention to detail!

Bridget's next miniature TV set, which she created for a video reel, was Monica and Rachel's apartment, complete with its purple walls, timber support beams, blue kitchen units and exposed bricks. Let's find out more about this mini make...

These images show some of the important details from the set, with the right-hand image showing Bridget painting the tiny shelving units for the kitchen. Getting the right colors and design details is always trial and error, while furnishings can be handmade or adapted. "Sometimes I have parts and pieces I can use for a specific set or I have to buy and modify a specific piece of furniture," Bridget explains. "Lighting is also an intricate part of the scene. I like to keep the focal point in certain spots so I make sure to have a lot of light in those areas." 

Bridget hand-makes items, or adapts pre-made dollhouse elements. "Some of the special pieces in my sets, like the yellow frame on the Friends door, are 3D-printed because they don't exist in miniature," she explains. Many of her sets lie behind tiny fake doors, complete with skirting boards. "I noticed a lot of sitcoms use a lot of the same doors and wood trim, inspired by New York apartments," Bridget says. She recreates these using dollhouse pieces or modeling clay, and sometimes custom-makes door handles, which she explains can be time-consuming. 

The finished Friends set is utterly incredible and could easily be mistaken for the real thing. The accuracy of Bridget's designs is all down to her commitment to quality. "I like knowing that I can make something of the best quality and rework it if it’s not at that level," she says. "I also do my best to get the scale and measurements correct. Some sitcom sets are really big, so I’m only able to make part of the room." Let's explore some of Bridget's other creations...

In the summer of 2022, Bridget recreated part of the iconic movie set from Raiders of the Lost Ark, the much-loved action-adventure movie by Steven Spielberg. In the movie, archaeologist Indiana Jones (played by Harrison Ford) recovers a golden idol, an ancient fertility symbol, from a booby-trapped Peruvian temple...

Bridget was tasked with recreating the temple interior, including the idol itself. This image shows the set part-way through the build. For the job, Bridget hand-sculpted some elements and 3D-printed others. The floor and wall tiles, for example, were created using torn pieces of modeling clay, which Bridget glued to the box and then shaped using a clay tool. She then finished the surfaces with watercolor paint. Bridget sourced the intricate Inca tiles from another miniature superfan.

The finished Raiders movie set is utterly amazing. We love the details like the fake moss, cobwebs and lanterns that line the walls. While this set was created just for fun, and is still in her collection, Bridget has created sets for Disney+ video adverts, as well as other fun creations for food companies and movies.

Of course, Bridget couldn't leave out one of the biggest cult TV shows of all time. For her Stranger Things set, Bridget decided to craft the Byers' unforgettable living room from series one – complete with hand-painted alphabet and working fairy lights.

This image shows Bridget creating the iconic alphabet wall, through which Joyce Byers, played by Winona Ryder, communicates with her missing son, Will, who's lost in The Upside Down. While dollhouse fairy lights are easy to source from miniature craft websites and stores, the timber-paneled walls were handmade by Bridget using her go-to favorite, Crayola's Air-Dry Clay. She also sourced similar wallpaper and furnishings and made some mini 80s books for the shelves.

Built inside a wooden box, about 15 inches wide, eight inches deep and 10 inches high, the Stranger Things set has been crafted flawlessly and the working fairy lights are powered by a hidden battery. 

In April 2022, Bridget teased her fans yet again with a short Instagram video showing her making a small section of the Central Perk coffee store from Friends. Of course, her followers were over the moon that another famous TV set was on its way and couldn't wait to see the end result...

This video still shows Bridget painstakingly painting the floor and trim of her Central Perk set. In other videos, she showed her followers how she upcycled some old dollhouse chairs to create the window seats, hand-made her own to-go coffee cups and transformed a heavily embellished sofa into the iconic orange couch by cutting down the couch's back and reupholestering it using fabric of a similar shade.

This is the finished set, and we're in awe! Complete with Phoebe's guitar and mic stand, the coffee store's signature giant mugs and the neon light by the front door, Bridget hasn't missed a thing. Amazingly, she revealed that she made Tazo teas for the counter out of pill capsules. 

Over the years, Bridget has tackled many of her favorite movies and TV shows, even recreating the iconic bookstore Flourish and Blotts from the Harry Potter franchise. Part of Diagon Alley, the beautiful bookstore features posters advertising Gilderoy Lockhart's latest novel, and even a Wanted poster about escaped Azkaban prisoner, Sirius Black. 

Her other creations include the closet scene from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, another highly popular 80s flick by Steven Spielberg. This tiny movie set features a miniature E.T., dressed in a wig and dress after Elliott (Henry Thomas) hides him in the wardrobe. The closet is filled with 80s decor, toys and games, some of which Bridget made herself and some she bought from other miniature makers.

Bridget also tackled one of her all-time favorite sitcoms, Seinfeld, recreating Jerry's TV apartment. Of course, his real-life home is far more luxurious. Again, most of this set was made using modeling clay, adapted dollhouse furniture and homemade creations crafted from cardboard. One of the cleverest aspects of this set is the potato chips that sit on the kitchen counter. The chips are actually seeds from inside a small red chili. Bridget described this as "my favorite potato chip hack." How genius is that?

During her career, Bridget has enjoyed plenty of unique and cool experiences, including being asked to feature on The Kelly Clarkson Show. “I’ve also had a few viral videos over the years," she tells us. "The longer I stayed in the hobby, the more recognition I got, and soon I was able to make a living from it. Now it’s my full-time job. I've also had a few celebrities reach out to me for creations – but I like to keep my collectors’ names private.” 

Well, Bridget is keen to move house so that she can have a bigger studio space. "My following has grown a lot and I'm planning on putting my prices up a bit each year, so I can take a little bit of time off," she explains. "My commissions are limited because my time is limited. Miniatures are a lot of work so taking a break helps a lot." Bridget will also be hitting miniature conventions across America, so keep your eyes peeled for her public appearances. Side note: how adorable is this tiny Monsters Inc. set?

As for advice for anyone looking to get started with miniatures, Bridget urges makers not to compare themselves to others. “It takes a long time to master a craft," she says. "Young people can get frustrated and compare themselves to experienced makers, but I’m getting close to 20 years in the industry. I recommend taking classes at your local miniature show, where artisans teach their skills." You can find a list of US shows on the National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts website.

Fallen in love with these? As well as her Etsy store, Bridget also sells adorable miniature pets at the Tom Bishop Productions, Inc Chicago International Miniatures Show. Oh, and this Full House set is another of Bridget's cool creations. We hope you're feeling inspired – we know we are!

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