A recipe for success.

ANEWCASTLEBASED kitchen company is celebrating its first year in business by promoting its products within a growing network of home-related retail units.

Klasplan Kitchens, on Jesmond Road, is owned by husband and wife, Steve and Sandra Slack, who supply kitchens and bedrooms from exclusive German manufacturers RWK Kitchens to the North East.

While the pair say they sell products for all tastes and budgets, Klasplans' main target audience includes businesses such as interior designers and architects.

In the residential market they are already attracting high levels of interest from customers in the professional bracket and, with a growing reputation and an increasing footfall to the showroom, the firm is looking to expand the number of outlets where their products are on display. By linking with other home improvement businesses and showcasing each firm's products, the couple believe everyone involved will benefit.

Mr Slack said: "We've installed a full traditional kitchen at Tyneside Stoves in Ashington, which ideally complements their range of wood burning stoves and cookers.

"It makes the setting very homely and appealing to both our sets of customers," "On the other hand, we have installed a modern, contemporary kitchen in Vive on Scotswood Road, which blends in well with their chic and stylish home furnishings and art work.

"It's all about helping each other and referring customers to local businesses."

The couple are also specialising in environmentally-friendly worktops made from recycled bottle bank glass.

The bench tops contain 85% recycled bottle bank glass with the remaining 15% coming from specially-formulated solventfree resins.

Each work top is made to order with an option to create a unique mix of glass and colour to blend or contrast with the rest of the customer's kitchen dcor.

The end product is polished to a beautiful and hard-wearing finish and is more durable than granite.

It takes around 400 recycled bottles to make one 200kg bench top.

"It's fantastic to be able to provide a product that helps the environment," said Mr Slack. "The first year has been great and by collaborating with other retailers and selling unique products like the work tops, I'm sure that we will continue to go from strength to strength."

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WORKING WELL - Husband and wife, Sandra and Steve Slack, of Klasplan Kitchens in Jesmond