Cloakroom inspired by rubber and yoghurt

3:40pm Friday 5th September 2008

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A DINGY primary school cloakroom has been revamped by a teacher turned interior designer – using yoghurt pots and rubber.

Sarah Williams, 45, of Henley Road, Marlow was a part time teacher at Holy Trinity School in Wethered Road for six years but quit to become an interior designer.

Before leaving, she entered a competition, called 'Transform the future-sustainable design in the community', to come up with a design which would use only recyclable materials.

It was judged by Grand Designs star Kevin Mcleod and organised by the rubber flooring company Dalsouple.

The designer, a teacher for 15 years, said: “It was an awful area, a typical grim old Victorian cloakroom, there was not enough room for the children to put their bags in so they ended up on the floor, being trampled on and they lost a lot of their stuff. There wasn't enough space or privacy for the children to get changed.

“They were old, not very pleasant rooms that were just not working, difficult to clean and unpleasant to look at.”

The cloakroom was re-built using an unusual combination of natural rubber flooring and plastic from recycled yoghurt pots: “The benches and doors of the lockers are made out of a white plastic made from recycled yoghurt pots.

The lockers which are rose coloured are made out of recycled plastic and are durable and hygienic.

“They even have a special plastic hook on the front to hang their coats to dry if wet,” said Mrs Williams.

The project was funded by the PTA and one of the pupil's father carried out the decoration.

Mrs Williams attended the Chelsea College of Art and Design before leaving the Holy Tininty at the end of last term.

The designer, who grabbed second prize in the competition, added: “I got kids involved in choosing the colours and the school club and council were involved in helping with the design.

“It made the kids aware of the environment and the importance of recycling.”

Mrs Williams hopes to continue her association with schools – by focusing her designs on reception areas, classrooms, toilets, lunch areas, and libraries.