This project was built and designed by Mike Montgomery from Modern Builds. It turns a set of old metal lockers into a stylish and functional media console with a built-in TV lift—blending creativity, functionality, and a touch of industrial style.
By repurposing forgotten furniture into something new, this build showcases how DIY can bring personality to your space while staying practical. From reinforcing sheet metal to fitting modern tech, Mike walks through each step with thoughtful technique and inventive problem-solving.
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Repurposing Vintage Lockers
The build starts with sourcing the right lockers. Mike found a three-tier vintage locker unit at a discount and chose it specifically for its size and distressed look. While the lockers showed some rust and broken doors, those imperfections added to the industrial charm he was going for.
After bringing them into the shop, he began by removing all the doors and damaged parts. Most lockers are held together with pop rivets, which Mike drilled out to break them down into usable panels. In tougher spots, he used an angle grinder to reach stubborn connections without damaging the outer shell.
Modifying for a TV Lift
With the lockers disassembled, the next phase involved creating space for the TV lift. This meant removing the back panel and trimming some of the internal structure. Mike used a clever trick to ensure straight, repeatable cuts: a piece of wood hot-glued to a ruler became a simple but effective cutting guide.
Precision was key here—the lift mechanism needed a snug fit, and every cut had to match. The goal was to clear space for the lift and TV while maintaining enough of the locker body to rebuild it as a solid cabinet.
Strengthening the Frame
Once the cuts were made, the locker structure became wobbly due to the missing rivets. To solve this, Mike used a rivet gun to rejoin key points and restore rigidity. It was his first time using this tool, but after a few practice runs, he had the hang of it and brought the frame back to life.
Reinforcing the sheet metal made the entire project more durable. By reusing original mounting points and adding extra fasteners where needed, the lockers were ready to become something new and long-lasting.
Prepping and Painting
Before painting, Mike removed any leftover handles, nameplates, and surface rust. He gave the lockers a full sanding and wiped everything down with acetone to clean off dust and residue.
Because the lockers had rust spots, he chose a primer designed specifically for metal and rust-prone surfaces. This gave the new paint a solid foundation and ensured it would last in a home environment.
Choosing a Fresh Color Palette
Mike picked a crisp white as the base color for the locker body. For a pop of contrast, he painted the back panel seafoam green. The mix of modern tones with vintage steel gave the piece a balanced, eye-catching style that worked well in both industrial and clean modern interiors.
Building the Cabinet Back and Top
For the back of the cabinet, Mike used half-inch MDF. He cut it down with a track saw and made it removable so the TV lift could be accessed later if needed. The top was built from ¾” pine plywood—simple, strong, and great for finishing.
To give the tabletop a sleek, metal-accented look, he used aluminum bar stock as trim. Instead of screws or nails, double-sided mounting tape kept everything secure and clean, with no visible fasteners.
Installing the TV Lift
The lift was a compact model that Mike researched specifically for this kind of narrow cabinet. After careful measuring, he mounted it into the modified locker body and used clamps and hot glue to temporarily hold components in place while drilling holes and aligning brackets.
This phase took extra care, but the result was a snug, smooth lift mechanism that tucked the TV neatly away when not in use.
Finishing Touches and Details
To protect the top and bring out the grain, Mike applied several coats of oil-based polyurethane. This not only added a rich finish but also helped the cabinet hold up to everyday use.
One of the more unique additions came at the end: bungee cords stretched across the back section to add tension and a custom design touch. It tied in the green accent color and gave the piece a signature look.
A Creative Twist on Media Storage
Mike’s TV lift cabinet proves that upcycling doesn’t have to look homemade. With careful planning, smart joinery, and a bit of vision, even a set of rusted lockers can become sleek, functional furniture.
It’s a great project for intermediate DIYers or anyone looking to combine modern tech with old-school materials.
Please support Mike by visiting his website: https://www.modernbuilds.com/.