The long awaited, totally epic and amazing 3-story rabbit palace!

Okay, that title is a bit excessive. But this construction project has dramatically changed the function of our house and made a few bunnies very happy.

I don't have a "before" picture because the room was such a disaster I was ashamed to even photograph it. Picture if you will, two rabbit pens, one arranged awkwardly under metal shelving crammed with stuff, the other stuffed under an ugly plywood shelf on which a beat-up dozen-year-old rabbit condo perched. There were random boxes blocking Steve's exercise equipment and... well, just take my word for it, it was a horrible mess.

To remedy the situation, Steve and I picked up some Ivar modular pine shelving from Ikea, a whole bunch of moulding from our local lumber yard, a couple rolls of coated chickenwire, and a large assortment of various hardware and got down to business.

In order to push the shelving flush with the wall, we had to compensate for the small box we built over the bizarrely uneven foundation at the base of that wall (visible to the right of Steve in the picture below). To do this, we picked up some furniture feet and attached them to the front post of each frame panel.

Steve tightens one such foot:

We had already installed a shelf above the windows to store carriers. The carriers do collapse somewhat, but in the interest of emergency preparedness, I wanted to leave them assembled. I can grab them from that high shelf with either a ladder or, if things are really crazy, simply by knocking them off with a broom.

Steve looks for studs to attach the tip-over prevention straps to the partially built shelving:

Next we had to build the panels and doors. I wanted each section of the shelving to have a separate removable panel, for easy access and cleaning.

Steve building one such panel frame:

Once the coated chickenwire was stapled to the frames, each panel was attached with a couple window screen buttons, which allow the panel to be fully removed with a quarter turn of the buttons. One panel on each level is on hinges with a cupboard latch, forming a door for easy operation to refill food, water and hay.

I insert one of the panels on the lower level (after laying down the indoor/outdoor carpet on each level):

Et voila!

Sharky occupies the top level, Bruce and middle and White Rabbit the bottom. They have boxes to play in and chew on, toys and plenty of room to stretch out. In the near future, we will be building detachable ramps so the rabbits can take turns exiting their housing to run free in the room for more exercise.

Wider shot of the finished project:

Steve's treadmill and elliptical machine (in their upright storage positions in the bottom left of the picture above) are now actually usable for the first time since we moved into our house. Steve's bike is parked in the room temporarily; there are plans afoot to build a bike shed eventually. 

I'm still fiddling with the storage opportunities presented by the new room layout, but since I will likely be tweaking things for some time, I figured I may as well get this project posted now. It's really making life in our little house so much better already.