Jeff Cummings
Hull Shipwreck Tavern The
Looking out the window in the bottom level of his new home, Jeff Cummings felt like he was in the hull of a ship, inspiring him to construct one of the great man-caves of all time. BY MANDY HAYNES • PHOTOS BY SHERRY CARTER
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ot long after Jeff and his family moved into their house by the Amelia River, he and his son, Pace, were looking through a window from the bottom level out over the marsh. He turned to his sone and said, “I feel like I’m looking out of the hull of a ship.” Almost immediately, Jeff, a carpenter disguised as a day trader, went to work turning the space into one of the most unique man caves you will ever see. Before you open the door to enter what Jeff has named The Hull Shipwreck Tavern, you notice Jeff’s attention to detail. The rum barrels, weathered boards, and copper relief sign with wrought iron accents are just a teaser of what lies ahead. When you step through the door onto a concrete floor painted to look exactly like the heavy oak planks from the inside of a pirate ship from the 17th or 18th century, your legs 43 AMELIA ISLANDER MAGAZINE •
automatically brace themselves for the rocking motion of the waves you’re sure are right on the other side of the wall. The bar to the right catches your eye immediately. Constructed from tequila barrels and a large wooden wire spool—and thanks to Jeff’s creative mind, artistic talent, and fertile imagination—it looks like something straight off the Pirates of the Caribbean movie set. I was really impressed by how Jeff was able to turn ordinary things into realistic-looking period pieces. Jeff put a lot of thought into each detail. Everywhere you look, you find a fun and interesting conversation piece. To give the impression of the entrance to the Captain’s Chambers, he designed and constructed a mirror that hangs continued on next page JUNE 2021
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