Best in Miniature

Best in Miniature is a Canadian reality competition television series, hosted by Aba Amuquandoh. The series premiered on CBC Gem in 2022.^[1][2]

Best in Miniature
Genre	Reality competition
Created by	Kelsey Espensen
Directed by	Ryan Shaw (2022) Mike Bickerton (2022-present)
Presented by	Aba Amuquandoh
Judges	Micheal Lambie Emma Waddell
Country of origin	Canada
Original language	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	26
Production
Executive producers	Matthew Hornburg (2022-present) Mark J. W. Bishop (2022-present) Diane Rankin (2022-present) Donna Luke (2022-present) Marike Emery (2022) Carly Spencer (2022-2023)
Producers	Jacqui Skeete (2022) Erica Lenczner (2022-present)
Running time	44 minutes
Production companies	Blue Ant Media, CBC Television
Original release
Network	CBC Gem
Release	February 11, 2022 (2022-02-11)

The show features craftspeople skilled in competing to make the best miniature scale model of a dream home. The winner receives a residency with the International Guild of Miniature Artisans and $15,000 (Seasons 1 and 2) or $10,000 (Season 3).^[3]

Format

In the first episode, contestants are given 10 hours to build the structure of their dream home. In each subsequent episode, competitors face off in two challenges. In the first "mini challenge," competitors must create one or more small items centred around a theme in a short period of time. The winner of the challenge is given either a ribbon, reward, or advantage. In the second challenge, competitors are given 8 hours to complete one room in their dream house. After judging, one contestant is sent home each episode.

Contestants

Season 1

Name	Residence	Source
Antavia Cherry	Charlotte, North Carolina
Cielo Vianzon	Toronto, Ontario
Susete Saraiva	Toronto, Ontario
Tina MacDonald	Edmonton, Alberta
Anica (Kat) Williams	Ocala, Florida
Roxanne Brathwaite	Toronto, Ontario
Susan Mattinson	Truro, Nova Scotia
Tom Brown	Calgary, Alberta
Lewis Bush	Hopkins. South Carolina
Phillip Nuveen	Brooklyn, New York
Stephen Eddleston	London, UK

Season 2

Name	Residence	Source
Michele Barrow-Belisle	London, Ontario	[4]
Tracy Ealdama	Vancouver, British Columbia
Alberto Gozzi	Brampton, Ontario
Nigel (Nick) Humes	Kingston, Jamaica
Debra Kirby	Norfolk, England
Hannah Lemon	London, England
Briar Nielsen	Uxbridge, Ontario
Preston Poling	Louisville, Kentucky
Micheline Wedderburn	Toronto, Ontario
Gabbi Whiteley	Vancouver, British Columbia

Season 3

Name	Residence	Source
Susan Canaday Henry	Las Vegas, Nevada	[5]
Shelley Acker	Kentville, Nova Scotia
August Riche	Queens, New York
Jen Arnold	Winnipeg, Manitoba
Nalini Sookdeo	Nottingham, Maryland
Mike Fraysher	Hanahan, South Carolina
Tiffany Monk	Sutton, Quebec
Lance Cardinal	Bigstone Cree Nation
Elliott Langford	Cheltenham, UK
Arline Smith	Port Hope, Ontario

Contestant progress

SEASON 1
Contestant	Home Style	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Susete	Haunted House	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	WINNER
Phillip	Ultra Modern New York Townhouse	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	RUNNER UP
Stephen	Victorian Dollhouse	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	RUNNER UP
Cielo	Affordable Shipping Container	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	SAFE	OUT
Roxanne	Mid-Century Modern Home	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	WIN	OUT
Tom	Grandparent's Cottage	WIN	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	WIN	WIN	OUT
Tina	Medieval Fantasy House	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	OUT
Lewis	Atlanta Mansion	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	OUT
Kat	Modern House	SAFE	WIN	OUT
Susan	East Coast Family Home	SAFE	OUT
Antavia	Sleek and Stylish House	OUT

SEASON 2
Contestant	Home Style	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Hannah Lemon		WIN	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE
Tracy Ealdama		SAFE	WIN	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	SAFE
Preston Poling		SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	WIN
Briar Nielsen		SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	OUT
Gabbi Whiteley		SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	WIN	SAFE	OUT
Michele Barrow-Belisle		SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	OUT
Debra Kirby		SAFE	SAFE	SAFE	OUT
Micheline Wedderburn		SAFE	SAFE	OUT
Alberto Gozzi		SAFE	OUT
Nigel (Nick) Humes		OUT

SEASON 3
Contestant	Home Style	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8

  (WIN) The Contestant won that episode's Room Challenge.

  (WIN) The Contestant won that episode's Mini Challenge.

  (OUT) The Contestant won that episode’s Mini Challenge but was eliminated from the competition during the Room Challenge.

  (OUT) The Contestant was eliminated from the competition.

  (SAFE) The Contestant won neither the Mini Challenge nor Room Challenge, and they were not eliminated.

  (WINNER) The Contestant was named Best in Miniature.

  (RUNNER UP) The contestant was runner up.

Episodes

Season	Miniaturists	Winner	Runner(s)-up	Episodes		Originally released
						First released	Last released
1	11	Susete Saraiva	Phillip Nuveen & Stephen Eddleston	10		February 11, 2022 (2022-02-11)	April 15, 2022 (2022-04-15)
2	10		&	8		February 19, 2023 (2023-02-19)	April 16, 2023 (2023-04-16)
3	10		&	8		December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)

Season 1 (2022)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original release date
1	1	"Open House"	February 11, 2022 (2022-02-11)
The miniaturists head to the workshop and build the structure for their dream homes.
2	2	"Child's Play & Living Room"	February 18, 2022 (2022-02-18)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny toys. For the room challenge, they build their living rooms.
3	3	"Blooms & Bathroom"	February 25, 2022 (2022-02-25)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny florals. For the room challenge, they build their bathrooms.
4	4	"Bookworms & Children's Room"	March 4, 2022 (2022-03-04)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny books. For the room challenge, they build their kid's rooms.
5	5	"Cakes & Dining"	March 11, 2022 (2022-03-11)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny edible cakes. For the room challenge, they build their dining rooms.
6	6	"Paintings & Office Work"	March 18, 2022 (2022-03-18)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny paintings inspired by their loved ones. For the room challenge, they build their offices.
7	7	"Pillows & Beds"	March 25, 2022 (2022-03-25)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny pillows. For the room challenge, they build their master bedrooms.
8	8	"Critters & Kitchen"	April 1, 2022 (2022-04-01)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny animals. For the room challenge, they build their kitchens.
9	9	"Sweet Surprise & Miniaturist's Choice"	April 8, 2022 (2022-04-08)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny candies. For the room challenge, they build a last room of their choice.
10	10	"Curb Appeal"	April 15, 2022 (2022-04-15)
In the season finale, the miniaturists finish the outside of their homes. A winner is crowned.

Season 2 (2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original release date
11	1	"First Impressions"	February 19, 2023 (2023-02-19)
The miniaturists head to the workshop and build the structure for their dream homes.
12	2	"All in the Family"	February 26, 2023 (2023-02-26)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny family heirlooms. For the room challenge, they build their family rooms.
13	3	"Don't Cramp my Style"	March 5, 2023 (2023-03-05)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny hats and shoes. For the room challenge, they build their master bedrooms and ensuites.
14	4	"Food Glorious Food"	March 19, 2023 (2023-03-19)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny desert island dishes. For the room challenge, they build their kitchens.
15	5	"It's Party Time"	March 26, 2023 (2023-03-26)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny party decorations. For the room challenge, they build their dining rooms.
16	6	"Child's Play"	April 2, 2023 (2023-04-02)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny items inspired by their childhoods. For the room challenge, they build their kid's rooms.
17	7	"Imagination Station"	April 9, 2023 (2023-04-09)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists turn trash into treasure. For the room challenge, they build a last room of their choice.
18	8	"The Finale"	April 16, 2023 (2023-04-16)
In the season finale, the miniaturists finish the outside of their homes with a yard sale. A winner is crowned.

Season 3 (2023)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Original release date
19	1	"Show Us Your Spirit"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
The miniaturists head to the workshop and build the structure for their dream homes.
20	2	"Making a Grand Entrance"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
21	3	"Give Us the Goodies"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
22	4	"Ready to Rock"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny pop icon mannequins. For the room challenge, they build their bedrooms with a walk-in closets.
23	5	"Making a Scene"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
24	6	"Game Night"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make tiny vases on pottery wheels. For the room challenge, they build their lounges/games rooms.
25	7	"The Devil is in the Details"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
For the mini challenge, the miniaturists make housewarming gifts for their fellow competitors. For the room challenge, they build either a kid's room or a hobby room.
26	8	"Take It Outside"	December 26, 2023 (2023-12-26)
In the season finale, the miniaturists finish the outside of their homes. A winner is crowned.

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Results	Ref.
2023	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Reality/Competition Series	Best in Miniature	Nominated	[6]
		Best Photography, Lifestyle or Reality/Competition	Shane Geddes	Nominated	[7]
2024	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Reality/Competition Series	Best in Miniature	Nominated	[8]
		Best Photography, Lifestyle or Reality/Competition	Shane Geddes	Nominated	[9]
		Best Production Design or Art Direction, Non-Fiction	Tim Luke	Nominated	[10]
2025	Canadian Screen Awards	Best Picture Editing, Reality/Competition	Daniel Cable, Pat Fairbairn, Alexandra Mastronardi, Curtis Rogers, Olivia Shin	Nominated	[11]