First look at the new Ashbrooke Home shop at Mackie's Corner in Sunderland city centre

Michaela Barry and daughter Matilda have transformed the prime corner unit of Mackie’s Corner to create the new shop, which opens its doors to the public from 9am on Friday, March 14.

It’s a major expansion to the Ashbrooke Florists brand, which has been a firm favourite in its namesake suburb for more than 20 years.

As well as the florist side of the business, they’ve had a homewares shop at the original site for the past decade.

It’s proved just as popular as the flowers, and Michaela says the new shop is an ideal way to expand that side of the business’s retail offering.

“Our homeware is really popular,” explained the city businesswoman. “We’re limited with size at the original shop, but there’s so many brands we love and we think other people will love.

“People are so into interiors these days and finding statement pieces and it’s a side of the business we really wanted to expand.”

Michaela knows the Kirtley family, who own Mackie’s Corner, and they suggested she take a look at the unit, once home to Robert Mackie’s hat shop, which gave the Victorian buildings their name.

“As soon as we saw it, we knew it was the perfect space,” added Michaela.

Fans of Ashbrooke Florists needn’t worry as their offering will remain the same, but here’s a look around its big sister, Ashbrooke Home.