The Zoo Stuffed Animal Storage

Materials: Gorm Shelving Unit

Description: This was a very simple project to make. I put a Gorm Shelving Unit together as directed. I added two 1 by 4's to each side and four 1 by 2's to the front. I used a brad nailer and a small amount of wood glue to attach all.

All 1 by 2's and 1 by 4's were cut to the same length as the Gorm supports. Add a cute sign to name your zoo and you are finished.

~ Stacy Davis, Orlando, FLorida

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Gorm becomes padded headboard full/queen

Materials: 12x30 gorm shelving system, metal braces, fabric, 4 Ikea Gosa Slan pillows, staple gun, twin size foam mattress pad, 4

Description: I wanted to use all of the fantastic bargains I got over Presidents' Day weekend. Since there was a comforter and a duvet set and a Gorm, obviously the Gorm must become bed. The Gorm was the smaller size of 12x30 shelf and included 4 shelves and 4 posts. I cut the posts down to 45 inches (don't throw away the other 23 inches because its the perfect size for a bedside table or shoe rack)

I put the 4 shelves together with metal braces until it felt sturdy. Be careful not to screw anything into that tiny half inch trim because it tends to crack. I screwed into the shelves only.

With the 4 posts I attached to the back of the shelf set (which by now is about 60 x 24). The 2 outer ones are butted up right against the sides and the 2 inner ones are butted up as close to the inside as possible. As it turned put for me, with my basic metal bed frame that converts from full to queen, drilling out 3/8 inch holes along the inside of the posts makes it a full size and the outside of the posts makes it a queen size. This headboard is fully exchangeable between sizes.

If I were to make this again, at this point here I would take a 60 inch length of half circle plain moulding and add it across the top of the headboard. Due to the edge of the shelf it pokes up a bit in the center which I can see in the finished product. A simple piece of moulding would have smoothed it out.

I took 4 of the Gosa Slan, which is the cheapest bed pillow Ikea sells, currently $1.50 each. I fluffed them in the dryer with a wet washcloth for a few minutes and then cut them open and dumped the stuffing out. Remade the pillow into approximately 24 x 60 size and added the stuffing back in. I stapled this to the front of the wood headboard.

I took a twin size foam mattress pad (about $10) and wrapped it around the top and sides and stapled it. If I had fabric that was about 80 inches wide and 30 inches tall then I would have simply stapled it around the edges and covered up the foam, leaving the back unfinished. I didn't have enough width for that so I ended up pinning the sides of the fabric and sewing them. This is a bit more time consuming but it does leave the back with a nicer more finished look.

I did paint the wood posts because I knew they would show with my full size bed. If I had wanted to get really crazy I might have plugged the holes with little round wood beads.

~ Toni, Utah

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The 40 Euro Wardrobe

Materials: Gorm shelf, Grundtal rail, Frosta stool, some additional short screws

Description: We needed a temporary solution in a new flat to use as a wardrobe since we were not sure what to do exactly with the existing space. So we headed for Ikea to find a simple and cheap solution.

When I came across the Gorm shelf (the 55cm's wide version - �24,99) it seemed to be perfect in size so I started collecting other items that would do the job of hanging some clothes on. In the end I found the Grundtal rail (kitchen stuff - �3,50) and the Frosta stool (�9,99) to be suitable. The �40 Wardrobe was born!


1) So for starters build up the Gorm frame and install the shelves at the lower part of it. This in order to keep space for the hanging section. As you can see in the overview picture, I installed the shelves on each second level from the bottom.

2) Then smash 2 of the brackets that come with the Gorm shelf flat with a hammer. You won't get them entirely flat of course, but the most important part is that you screw it to one of the stool feet as flat as possible so the Grundtal screw has no space to get loose.

3) Screw one bracket onto the long part of a Frosta stool leg. Hang this one over the shelf, then screw the other bracket into a second Frosta foot. An alternative approach is screwing both brackets into a Frosta foot first, then unscrew one of the top Gorm screws which will allow you to hang the hanging section onto the top Gorm shelf (I hope this is not too confusing?).

Now "The 40 Euro Wardrobe" should be finished. The fun part of the Frosta feet and Grundtal rail is that you can slide it forwards and backwards as a drawer. An extra "finishing touch" that I did was screwing two left over Vagen curtain rod wall fittings on the upper side of the shelf, making perfect jeans hangers. You can also buy the Vagen or Beskada Double wall fittings separately for �2,99, giving you space for at least four jeans.

~ Jesper Engels, Austria

Gorm for a beach house gate

Materials: Gorm shelves

Description: For the safety of our grandson (2) who loves playing ball on the terrace, we needed a gate at the top of the stairs.

I used 3 Gorm shelves, 2 boards and two strap hinges and a door latch.
I drilled holes of different sizes through the wood and decided to call it "Champagne".

~ luc, south of france

Outdoor Cat Enclosure

Materials: Sten (old) shelves - use GORM

Description: We have 4 cats and live on a busy street. The cats go outside but I did not want to let them run free. We took two old STEN shelving unit from the garage and made a cat enclosure.

1. We purchased a cat door from the local hardware store. A friend created an insert for our dining room window with a piece of MDF wood. Using a router he cut out the area for the cat door and inserted the manufactured door into the wood. We raise the window enough to wedge the wooden piece with the door, in the opening.

2. We adjusted the shelves in the STEN unit, so they were staggered, (allowing the cats to climb up and down by zig-zagging, also cancelling the need to cut the shelves) then screwed the two units together side by side.

3. We measured the distance of the front of one cabinet and built a basic door - 2X4's, chicken wire and some hardware. We fastened it to the "front". (in case we had to get a cat out due to an emergency)

4. We built a "tunnel" - (a box with no top or bottom) turned it on its side so the cats could get from the structure to the cat door in the window without escaping. We screwed that into the STEN unit.

5. We purchased some chicken wire from the hardware store and wrapped the unit, stapling the chicken wire to wood where possible to prevent escape.

6. The unit was a bit short to line up with the window, so we set it on, and screwed it to a platform.

7. A bit of paint and a name - we call it a Catio and voila!

8. In the winter we remove the cat door insert and we are able to close the window.

~ Kate Wilke/Randall Seddon, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Deluxe Gorm Pedalboard

Materials: Gorm shelf, Dioder LED bar

Description: This might seem a little decadent, but aside from its practical use it is excellent musicians living room decoration.

All in all I have three "Gorm Boards", all made from the same Ikea product: the Gorm shelf. I always pull out the outermost planks and refix them again a bit farther apart from each other so cables better fit in between and to have a slightly larger real estate. Stained or painted it - white enamel spray paint in this case. Added rubber feet (get them from any hardware store or case and rack builders). Essential Velcro.

Now it doesn't really help seeing things on stage but the Dioder bars were just something I had to try. They fit beneath perfectly and with a little cable management they become invisible, too.

~ Florian, Hamburg, Germany

Big RAT house for the rat

Materials: Gorm system

Description: You might be asking.."What a strange introduction to a hack.." I'd like to introduce the house of our 5 rat girls..

As a new cage for our rat pack would be WAAAY to expensive..my gf and i decided to have a go at it ourselves..Meaning - I'd have a go ;)

It all started with a trip to the nearest Ikea store and the purchase of this.

Price ok, everything ok..and now what??



This is how it looked when we got it home..

You will need one of these..

Cut pieces...

Assemble

Special tray for food, toys...stuff :)

Wheels for extra mobility (2.99� for 4)

Activate this..:)

The neighbours like me a bit less..but what has to be done, has to be done..

As we all know how sneaky rats are... I'd rather put in 100 extra staples than search for the rat in our apartment.

The netting is cheaper in a roll than in one piece... we need the same thing to hold the Space Shuttle together...cable ties.

The best cage is useless without doors..

Take care you get straight pieces... crooked wood will not help your project..

Assembled..

Interior design...

Fresh from England..Sputnik rat houses..

Litter box with small Samla toilet.., rat Manca has to pose..

The 2-nd Sputnik hanging on the ceiling-again - cable ties..:)

I hope you like my work..:)

See more of the Gorm rat cage.

~ Marko, Slovenia

"Covey Run" - Quail Condo

Materials: Gorm shelving unit plus extra shelves

Description: I call it "Covey Run". This planned community features a six story condo complete with an automatic watering station and a dust bath. It's situated in a lovely orchard which provides plenty of space for day hikes, stretching and other exercise, foraging, and relaxing after lunch under a nice shady tree.

I'm an Urban Homesteader who raises a large percentage of my own food. I needed to build new housing for my quail. It had to be predator proof as I have raccoons and cats in the neighborhood that find a nice juicy quail to be lovely meal. It had to have enough room for them to move around and stretch their wings. I needed to be able to incorporate an automatic watering system. And it have easy access for cleaning.

The GORM shelving system turned out to be the perfect basis for my new quail housing. I purchased one unit and four extra shelves. I also had to purchase some hardware cloth, hinges and gate lock hooks at a local hardware store. Then the fun began.

Each of the five interior shelves needed to have a ramp built so the quail could move easily from one level to the next. I simply cut out a section of one board, attached a hinge, covered it with chicken wire for traction, and screwed it back onto one cut edge. I alternated from front to back on each shelf. Once I assembled the shelving unit, this created a perfect ramp setup that works just like a stair case.

Next, I attached hardware cloth to three sides using a staple gun and LOTS of 9/16" staples. The screen needed to be very secure. I left a small space near a back corner to run a hose through for my watering system. I used hinges to attach the two remaining shelves to make access doors. The upper door allows me to access their feeder. The lower one gives me access to their watering system and their dust bath (plastic tub). I can leave the lower door open during the daytime in order to allow the quail to free range in my small side yard orchard.

The final touches were a corrugated roof (left over from another project), door locks, and handles. I used a couple of screws to secure the entire thing to my fence. Presto! Instant quail condo!

What more could a covey of quail desire? It's the PERFECT place to call home!

See more of the Covey Run quail condo.

~ Kitty Sharkey, Oakland, CA