I dont see why newspaper wouldn't be okay in the kitchen. There are many people who would discourage its' use but I have not had a problem with it. My girls have not tried to eat it (some piggies do), and I find that cleanup is much easier when all I have to do is roll up the paper and throw it out, rather than scooping bedding or picking hay off fleece.
The bunk-bed is very easy to make! All it is, is a bent grid with coroplast on the bottom and a cover over it for comfort.
I zip-tied it to the grids a few inches up so they could go under and on top of it! Hope this helps!