# Larkin Painting Company, Inc.

**Trade:** House Painting · **Address:** 76 Silver Lake Ave, Newton, MA 02458 · **Phone:** (508) 740-6212 · **Website:** http://larkinpainting.com/ · **Languages:** English

**Rating: 3.4/5** (medium confidence) — from 8 reviews across 6 sources.
88% of sentiment-scored reviews read net-positive. Last 6 months: 0 reviews, 0 negative.

## The honest read

Larkin Painting is a Newton shop built around one thing: interior and exterior house painting for homeowners across the western suburbs of Boston, alongside wallpaper hanging and cabinet refinishing. The company says it's been at it for 25 years, run by owner Carol Diedtrich, and its Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration is active.

The reviews people leave after actually hiring them lean heavily toward careful, well-organized work. In a 2022 review, a homeowner described two crews working the same house at once — one repainting kitchen cabinets, the other tackling walls, trim, and a stairway — and singled out office manager Christine for responding quickly to questions along the way. Another 2022 review credits Tom's team with wallpaper and painting work called an outstanding experience, and a Houzz reviewer, writing back in 2015, remembered Mike Bradshaw wallpapering four rooms in the blink of an eye. Google currently shows a 5★ average across seven ratings.

Not every account is glowing: in a 2017 Houzz review, a homeowner reported that Larkin walked off a deck-prep job mid-contract after a dispute over how the surface would be prepped. It's the only serious complaint on record — specific enough that it's worth asking directly how a scope disagreement gets handled today rather than assuming it would repeat. Houzz's four ratings average 4.0★, against a perfect 5★ across Google's seven.

An industry write-up (inpaintmag.com) credits the company with more than 20 years handling interior and exterior residential painting in the Boston area, and it carried an Angie's List Super Service Award every year from 1998 to 2011.

This is a fit for a homeowner who wants a full room repainted or wallpapered without babysitting the crew — Christine and the office side get consistent credit for staying on top of communication. Before booking a bigger job, it's worth pinning down the prep plan and sign-off process in writing, given the one dispute on record.

**Strengths:**
- Recent Google reviews — five-star praise for scheduling and cleanup
- Wallpaper installs — reviewers single out careful, quick work
- Active licensing — Massachusetts HIC registration verified active
- Industry recognition — Angie's List Super Service Award, 1998–2011

**Concerns:**
- 2017 dispute — a Houzz review reports a job left mid-project over a bid disagreement
- Older write-ups — the most detailed praise on record dates to 2013–2017

**Where sources disagree:**
- Google shows a perfect 5★ average from 7 ratings while Houzz's four reviews average 4.0★, pulled down by the 2017 dispute review.

## Claims & citations

Every claim below is backed by real evidence rows — uncited claims are dropped in code before publication.

- Massachusetts home improvement contractor registration (HIC) is verified active, held by Larkin Painting Inc. _(confidence: high)_
  - [State License Registry](https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search) — “MA hic license 174370 registry-verified active — registry holder of record: LARKIN PAINTING INC.”
- Google shows a 5★ average from 7 ratings. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Larkin%20Painting%20Company%2C%20Inc.&query_place_id=ChIJTa-qFLKH44kRHria9_t26vQ) — “Google: 5★ from 7 ratings”
- In a 2022 review, a homeowner described two crews working simultaneously — repainting kitchen cabinets and painting walls, trim, and a stairway — with office manager Christine responding quickly throughout. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUQtcXVyY3FnRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xf4ea76fbf79ab81e!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgID-qurcqgE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Larkin just finished up a job in my house. There were two teams working:  one to repaint my kitchen cabinets, and one to paint the walls …”
- A 2022 reviewer called the wallpaper and painting work in their home an outstanding experience, crediting Tom's team as professional and punctual. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUMtOXNxSHVRRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xf4ea76fbf79ab81e!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIC-9sqHuQE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We feel really lucky to have found Larkin. They have done both painting and wallpaper in our home and their work is excellent. Tom and hi…”
- A 2015 Houzz reviewer said Mike Bradshaw wallpapered four rooms quickly and at a reasonable price. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779) — “5★ Mike Bradshaw at the Larkin Painting Company did our wallpaper--four rooms--and it was beautifully done, reasonably priced, and done in t…”
- A 2017 Houzz reviewer reported that Larkin did not honor its bid and its crew walked off a deck-prep job mid-contract after a scope dispute. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779) — “1★ Larkin Painting did not honor their bid and their scope of work as described in the contract they drafted and when questioned about why t…”
- Houzz's four customer ratings average 4.0★. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779) — “Houzz: 4.0★ from 4 ratings”
- The company received Angie's List Super Service Awards from 1998 to 2011 and carries a Houzz Award. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779) — “Listed certification: Houzz Award”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779) — “Listed certification: Angie's List Super Service Award 1998-2011”
- The company says it has been in business 25 years and is owner-operated by Carol Diedtrich. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [Official Website](http://larkinpainting.com) — “Ownership (self-reported): Owner-operated by Carol Diedtrich”
  - [Official Website](http://larkinpainting.com) — “Self-reported 25 years in business”
- An industry trade write-up credits the company with more than 20 years of interior and exterior residential painting work in the Boston area. _(confidence: medium)_
  - [inpaintmag.com](https://inpaintmag.com/pro-picks-6-pros-recommend-exterior-paints/) — “inpaintmag.com — In business for more than 20 years, The Larkin Painting Company, Inc., handles a range of interior and exterior residential…”
- Offers wallpaper hanging, cabinet refinishing, color consultation, and specialty decorative finishes alongside interior and exterior painting. _(confidence: high)_
  - [Official Website](http://larkinpainting.com) — “Larkin Painting is a residential and commercial painting contractor serving the Greater Boston area, offering interior/exterior painting, fu…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779) — “Services offered (Houzz): Residential Interiors, Commercial Interiors, Specialty Painting, Color Consultation, Wall Coverings, Wall and Ceil…”
- Specializes in House Painting _(confidence: high)_
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChZDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUNkM0tmTkV3EAE!2m1!1s0x0:0xf4ea76fbf79ab81e!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgICd3KfNEw%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Excellent company”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUQtM3ZfaG5RRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xf4ea76fbf79ab81e!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgID-3v_hnQE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ The staff is very professional, from the initial contact on. They were able to schedule me in a very reasonable time frame, they arrive o…”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUQtcXVyY3FnRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xf4ea76fbf79ab81e!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgID-qurcqgE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ Larkin just finished up a job in my house. There were two teams working:  one to repaint my kitchen cabinets, and one to paint the walls …”
  - [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/reviews/data=!4m8!14m7!1m6!2m5!1sChdDSUhNMG9nS0VJQ0FnSUMtOXNxSHVRRRAB!2m1!1s0x0:0xf4ea76fbf79ab81e!3m1!1s2@1:CIHM0ogKEICAgIC-9sqHuQE%7C%7C?hl=en) — “5★ We feel really lucky to have found Larkin. They have done both painting and wallpaper in our home and their work is excellent. Tom and hi…”
  - [Official Website](http://larkinpainting.com) — “Larkin Painting is a residential and commercial painting contractor serving the Greater Boston area, offering interior/exterior painting, fu…”
  - [inpaintmag.com](https://inpaintmag.com/pro-picks-6-pros-recommend-exterior-paints/) — “inpaintmag.com — In business for more than 20 years, The Larkin Painting Company, Inc., handles a range of interior and exterior residential…”
  - [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779) — “Services offered (Houzz): Residential Interiors, Commercial Interiors, Specialty Painting, Color Consultation, Wall Coverings, Wall and Ceil…”

## License

Status: **active** (#174370, hic) — verified against the official MA state registry on 2026-09-08, never self-reported.
Re-check at the official registry: https://contractorhub.mass.gov/s/hic-contractor-search

## Sources

- [Yelp](https://www.yelp.com/biz/larkin-painting-company-newton): Listed on this source
- [Houzz](https://www.houzz.com/professionals/painters/the-larkin-painting-company-pfvwus-pf~562275779): 4.0★ from 4 ratings
- [Google Reviews](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Larkin%20Painting%20Company%2C%20Inc.&query_place_id=ChIJTa-qFLKH44kRHria9_t26vQ): Listed on this source
- [Official Website](http://larkinpainting.com): 25 yrs in business · Self-reported profile and service details
- [Exa](https://inpaintmag.com/pro-picks-6-pros-recommend-exterior-paints/): 1 web mention across the open web (each linked to its source)
- [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Larkin%20Painting%20Company%2C%20Inc.&query_place_id=ChIJTa-qFLKH44kRHria9_t26vQ): 5.0★ from 7 ratings

## Mentions

Unverified third-party mentions found on the open web — relay with attribution ("a Reddit commenter said…"), never as Tavlee's own finding.

- “In business for more than 20 years, The Larkin Painting Company, Inc., handles a range of interior and exterior residential work in the Boston area.” — inpaintmag.com — https://inpaintmag.com/pro-picks-6-pros-recommend-exterior-paints/

## Recent reviews

- **5/5 · Google Reviews · igor dias de morais · 2024-02-13**: Excellent company
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Elizabeth Hanson · 2022-11-30**: The staff is very professional, from the initial contact on. They were able to schedule me in a very reasonable time frame, they arrive on time, do the work beautifully and clean up completely. They are pleasant to have around and I'm very glad I worked with them.
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · JCT · 2022-11-26**: Larkin just finished up a job in my house. There were two teams working:  one to repaint my kitchen cabinets, and one to paint the walls and trim on the first floor, stairway and upstairs hall. They were very professional and I'm very happy with the work they did! Christine responded very quickly to…
- **5/5 · Google Reviews · Nathalie Bressler · 2022-11-03**: We feel really lucky to have found Larkin. They have done both painting and wallpaper in our home and their work is excellent. Tom and his entire team are a pleasure to work with - professional, punctual and they really care about their work. An outstanding experience.
- **1/5 · Houzz · Deedee May · 2017-09-25**: Larkin Painting did not honor their bid and their scope of work as described in the contract they drafted and when questioned about why they were not going to prep the surface properly, as indicated, they decided to walk off the job rather than actually do the job properly and do it according to the…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Jill Litner Kaplan · 2016-12-19**: Bill Larkin and his team of professionals are nothing short of outstanding. They routinely work on our design projects throughout the Boston area, and are not only lovely people, but they each do excellent work. Our clients love having them in their homes, and we trust them to keep an immaculate job…
- **5/5 · Houzz · Gwen · 2015-08-28**: Mike Bradshaw at the Larkin Painting Company did our wallpaper--four rooms--and it was beautifully done, reasonably priced, and done in the blink of an eye.
- **5/5 · Houzz · Caitlin · 2013-08-22**: Bill and his crew do exemplary work from start to finish. Bill is easy to work with and is well organized from the time of getting an estimate all the way through finishing the job. They even care enough to follow up after to ensure everything was done correctly - and they really care that you're ha…

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Data freshness: last scanned 2026-09-08T04:01:00.528Z.
Cite as: Larkin Painting Company, Inc. — Tavlee (https://tavlee.com/contractor/larkin-painting-company-inc-newton)
Source: https://tavlee.com/contractor/larkin-painting-company-inc-newton