Summer Entertaining Essentials: 6 Handcrafted Pieces Your Backyard Needs This Season
There's something about a warm Iowa summer evening that makes you want to slow down, gather your people, and actually enjoy the backyard. Whether you're hosting a 4th of July cookout, a casual Friday night around the fire, or just finally making use of that patio space — the right pieces make all the difference. Here are six handcrafted essentials from our shop that belong at every summer gathering.
1. The Lowboy Adirondack Chair
Every great backyard starts with a great seat. Our Lowboy Adirondack is built low to the ground for that laid-back, sink-in comfort that makes guests never want to leave. Handcrafted from solid wood right here in Iowa, it's the kind of chair that becomes a permanent fixture — not a seasonal afterthought. If there's one piece to invest in this summer, this is it.
👉 Shop The Lowboy Adirondack Chair
2. Cedar Coaster Set with Display Stand
Cold drinks and hot summers are a given. Protect your surfaces in style with our cedar coaster set — each one naturally aromatic, smooth to the touch, and built to last far longer than anything you'd grab off a shelf at a big box store. The included display stand keeps them organized and ready between rounds.
3. Magnetic Wooden Bottle Opener
Mount it by the cooler, the back door, or the bar cart — our magnetic bottle opener catches the cap so you're not hunting for it in the grass. It's a small detail that gets noticed every single time. Practical, handcrafted, and genuinely useful. The kind of thing guests ask about.
👉 Shop Magnetic Wooden Bottle Opener
4. Cascading Rustic Wall Wine Rack
For the host who takes their outdoor entertaining seriously. Our wall-mounted wine rack keeps bottles accessible and adds a warm, rustic touch to any patio or entertaining space. It's functional art — the kind of piece that makes your setup look intentional rather than thrown together.
👉 Shop Cascading Rustic Wall Wine Rack
5. 3-in-1 Wooden Kitchen Tool
Fresh herbs straight from the garden are a summer staple — and our 3-in-1 kitchen tool makes using them effortless. Six graduated herb-stripping slots handle everything from delicate thyme and rosemary all the way up to hearty kale and collard greens, giving you one tool that works across your entire garden harvest. The jar opener built into the underside tackles those stubborn canned lids that always seem to fight back at the worst moment. Handcrafted from your choice of hardwood, it's the kind of tool that earns a permanent spot on your counter all summer long.
👉 Shop 3-in-1 Wooden Kitchen Tool
6. Wooden Garden Flowers
Add a little handcrafted charm to your garden beds, planters, or patio pots. Our wooden garden flowers are weather-resistant, colorful, and built to hold up through the season — no watering required. They're a simple, cheerful touch that makes any outdoor space feel more like your space.
Ready to make your backyard the place to be this summer?
Everything above is handcrafted to order right here in Iowa. Browse the full collection at Hendricks Handcrafted and get your order in before the 4th — because some things are worth the wait.