James Martin
Certified Wood Finisher
In his 30-year wood finishing career, James Martin has transformed hundreds of Massachusetts homes. One particular highlight: in 2004, he helped build a home for Boston Magazine’s annual “Design Home” series, adding cabinetry, paint, and his signature finishing to the Hopkinton home. Word got around about the home, and people flocked to its open house, turning the neighborhood into the “talk of the town.” Even former Red Sox Nomar Garciaparra wanted to get in, with rumors of a potential move to the neighborhood. You could say Martin just has that “touch.”
Martin is also a nationally renowned instructor in wood finishing, with teaching credentials registered in Hopkinton, MA, Dallas, TX, and Vero Beach, FL.
Frankenstein Refinishing’s History
After graduating from college, James Martin’s painting career immediately took off. From entertainment centers to multi-million dollar homes, Martin’s brush touched it all. As the years went on, his company grew to 20 workers due to the overwhelming demand.
While on a trip in Dallas, Martin took note of the southwestern homes & different finishing styles. This trip inspired him to begin incorporating Texan styles with Florida-based products. Walls and ceilings were completed in a variety of glazes and different plasters, including Venetian and metallic. Clients couldn’t get enough.
The New England Institute of Faux Finishing
After attending more than 20 weeks of classes, Martin opened his own school, the New England Institute of Faux Finishing in Hopkinton, MA. Here, Martin taught one-week classes once a month. Martin’s students, who had flown in from different parts of the world to attend, went on to become stellar woodwork finishers.
Boston Magazine Design Home of 2004
In 2004, Boston Magazine selected New England Institute of Faux Finishing to help build a home for its “Design Home” section. Together, Martin and his students created custom walls, ceilings, woodwork, and cabinetry. The project was a monumental achievement and has not been duplicated anywhere since.
Accolades & Awards
In 2007, Raymond Sandor, the President of Faux Effects, a decorative finishing company, called Martin, inviting him to “The 50 Best Finishers Around The World” convention. Sandor, who had worked alongside marble setters in France, and plasterers from Italy, praised Martin as the “the only one out of the 50 who could work on complete rooms from top to bottom at the highest level.” James’ life was truly changed by the recognition of his talent at this convention.
Not long after, Martin began experimenting with ML Campbell cabinetry finishes. He noticed some issues with some of the high-end finishing products, and ended up troubleshooting formulas alongside the chemists who created them. He went on to become a tester for Campbell products before they were sent to final production. Because of Martin’s work, the final formulas for several Campbell products were changed.
Accolades: “Best Home Theater” 2025 (First Place) by CES, the largest technology trade show, in Las Vegas.
Frankenstein Refinishing Today
When James’ twin boys were born, he decided to scale back his professional work to focus on providing for his family with Frankenstein Refinishing. Today, Martin & the rest of the six-person Frankenstein staff are dedicated to delivering some of the best refinishing in Massachusetts.
