Business Women Awards 2025
ACHIEVEMENT HONOREE:
Linda Greco, Linlocks Finds and Designs founder and owner
ANYONE WHO’S BUILDING a new house, redoing a kitchen, even freshening up a lowly mudroom knows the process all seems straightforward until it’s time to make decisions. Then it’s what fabric should the sofa be? What will the backsplash look like? Should the flooring be hardwood or bamboo or luxury vinyl tile?
It’s enough to make moving into a yurt seem more appealing. Interior designer Linda Greco knows the telltale signs of stressed-out homeowners. Her clients range from 30 to 70 years old, usually married couples.
“Most of the time when they come to me, they don’t know what they want,” she said. “I ask them to do a questionnaire, which helps them focus.”
Greco founded Linlocks Finds and Designs in 2013 in Cranston, offering services ranging from color consultations to full home renovations, with a primary focus on kitchens. Kitchen remodels typically cost between $40,000 and $100,000, and Greco ensures her clients get lasting results.
Born and raised in Cranston, Greco discovered her artistic talent early through drawing and sketching classes. She pursued a bachelor’s degree in teacher education at the University of Rhode Island and has spent more than 26 years teaching, currently working in the Johnston school system. Teaching, she says, allows her to blend her creativity with education.
Greco’s love for design flourished in 2001 when she built her own home, selecting every element in a time without the aid of Pinterest. Following personal losses, including a divorce and the death of her fiancé in 2012, she channeled her energy into launching her business. The online directory Thumbtack helped Greco attract clients and she now manages around 40 projects annually.
Greco has built a trusted team of contractors, including tile installers, electricians and plumbers. Though she occasionally hires help, she personally handles 95% of her projects.
“I’m very confident in the group I have. The business has really taken off,” Greco said.
Her artistic instincts extend into her classroom, where she once painted a 200-hour mural inspired by “Henry and Mudge” and redesigned the teachers’ lounge to be more uplifting.
She views teaching and interior design as both requiring creativity, organization and the ability to manage people.
