I made this concrete backsplash to go with the concrete countertops I made using Quikrete countertop mix and Lego bricks. I love how this backsplash shows the texture from the Legos. The Lego bricks were not damaged and I cleaned them in the washing machine. I used the classic Lego bricks to make the mold. I raided my parent's attic to retrieve my childhood stash and purchased a few new sets.

SUPPLIES:

Quikrete Countertop Mix in Grey
Home Depot
I used quikrete countertop mix in grey. Quikrete 5000 would also work if you sifted out the gravel.


1/8" Acrylic
Home Depot
I used 1/8" acrylics to make the recesses in the concrete mold.


LEGO Bricks
Amazon

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1: Build the LEGO prototype.
I used classic LEGO bricks to build a prototype of the backsplash. I built it in pieces to minimize the chance of them breaking.





STEP 2: Build the LEGO mold.
I took the prototypes and flipped them upside down before building a mold for the concrete around the prototype. I used smooth flat tiles to line the molds. These pieces can be purchased individually from the Lego website.









STEP 3: Mix and pour the concrete.
I mixed some Quikrete countertop mix and poured it into the lego molds. I made sure to push the wet concrete into all the corners . I used my orbital sander without a sanding pad to vibrate the air bubbles out of the wet concrete.









STEP 4: Remove the LEGO.
After the concrete had cured for 2 days I used a scrub to scrub off any concrete residue that had leaked through or gotten on the outside of the mold. I them removed the bricks.











STEP 5: Clean the LEGO bricks.
I separated all the LEGO bricks and scraped off any dried pieces of concrete. I then put them in a mesh laundry bag and then washed the entire bag in my washing machine using a cup of white vinegar as a cleaner. It is important to make sure that the LEGO pieces don't come out of the bag and clog up the drain. You can double bag the LEGO to be safe. Most of the pieces come out clean but a few have little pieces stuck in them and can be removed with a toothpick.













STEP 6: Make more pieces.
I repeated this process to make the rest of the backsplash pieces.



STEP 7: Make the wooden inserts.
I bought some pieces of ½” thick maple from Rockler.com and cut them into strips on my table saw. I glued and screwed these pieces together to make a dish rack that fits in the concrete pieces.

















STEP 8: Seal the wood.
I coated the wood pieces with Bioshield Countertop finish. It is a food safe finish that protects the wood.







STEP 9: Seal the concrete.
I used Quikrete sealer to seal the concrete pieces.



STEP 10: Install the pieces.
I used silicone caulk to seal the pieces to the wall, to each other, and to the countertops before I made sure that water would drain nicely and then added the wood inserts.

























Good luck making your own DIY plywood shelves and please email or tweet photos to @benuyeda or ben@homemade-modern.com If you want to see what we're working on next, follow us on Instagram: @benjaminuyeda and @ijessup. Also check out our book for additional projects, DIY tips and guides.

---