Weekend, March 1-2, 2025 – Queens Vibes: Style Extravaganza

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5 Quirky Queens House Trends

WEEKEND, MARCH 1-2, 2025

ISSUE #1408

Untapped New  York 

1. Colorful Paint

Photo by Rafael Herrin-Ferri

Herrin-Ferri started documenting the houses of his borough back in 2013. His block-by-block survey was completed in 2020. Walking and biking through the borough, he captured portraits of houses that some might deem “distasteful, kitschy, ill-proportioned, misshapen, or just plain ugly.” To Herrin-Ferri however, these houses “reflect the evolving every day, incrementalist spirit of the borough.”

One of the bold ways Queens residents personalize their homes is by painting them vibrant colors. It’s not uncommon to see a pop of blue, green, yellow, or pink among a row of otherwise dull-toned buildings. Sometimes, the paint color even extends to the fence, stoop, driveway, and sidewalk. In researching some of the houses he photographed, Herrin-Ferri came to learn that the colors often have cultural significance.

2. Decorative Fences

Photo by Rafael Herrin-Ferri

In the book, Herrin-Ferri gives each house photographed a descriptive name such as “Holy Zebra House,” “Green Elf House,” or “Dutch Vinyl Makeover.” The names point out the most striking features of the homes. Interpretive texts that accompany the images in the book reveal “a colorful history of alterations and architectural references.”

Another architectural feature Queens residents use to make a statement is fencing. Fences throughout Queens come in a variety of materials, but most are wrought iron or stainless steel. These metals can be formed into ornate patterns, symbols, and characters that are purely ornamental or that have a cultural significance. As the New York Times noted in its 2022 article about the proliferation of stainless fences in the borough, they also can serve as a status symbol. Brightly colored lions that top masonry fence posts are another feature Herrin-Ferri often observed.

3. Mixed Facade Materials

Photo by Rafael Herrin-Ferri

It’s not uncommon in Queens to see two neighboring homes with two completely different facades. One may be brick while its neighbor is covered in vinyl siding. One half might be a solid-colored stucco while the other is stone, or there might be a little bit of everything as in the photo above!

In addition to the frontal, New-objective style images of individual homes that Herrin-Ferri shows in the book, there are also full-page detail shots and street perspectives that offer a “more personal and pedestrian point of view.” These broader views show how individual homes co-exist within diverse streetscapes.

4. Ornate Doors and Stoops

Photo by Rafael Herrin-Ferri

Like fences and facades, doorways and stoops come in as many colors and shapes as you can imagine. In the first photo above, you can see three completely different styles all right next to each other. Stoops likewise vary widely, from classic brick to painted colors.

The color and character shown in these different architectural elements are traits that Herrin-Ferri notes “seem to be ignored by most present-day developers as they cater to the appetite for ‘affordable-luxury’ apartment buildings that hide all of their attractive amenities on the inside and offer very little to the public at street level.”

5. Lawns and Gardens

Photo by Rafael Herrin-Ferri

Front and back lawns and gardens are another area where Queens residents get to express themselves. While some go for simple suburban-like manicured green lawns with some flowers and shrubs, others adorn their yards with sculptures, water features, and elaborate gardening.

Browsing through Herrin-Ferri’s Instagram, you’ll see yards that feature gardens that look fit for a castle in England, fence to fence Astroturf, and a reclining Budha statue. The outdoor spaces are an extension of the house’s architectural expression. See more stunning images of Queens architecture in our upcoming Untapped New York Insider virtual talk with Rafael Herrin-Ferri!

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Image Roosevelt Island
Painted in Queens Colors!!

CREDITS

UNTAPPED NEW YORK

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