EXCLUSIVE: They Spent Millions Building Dream Home in Miami—Complete With Hermes Bar. Now They’re Selling Without Ever Moving In

A couple who spent millions creating their custom dream home in Miami have revealed why they have decided to put the extravagant abode on the market for $25 million—despite never actually moving in.

Deborah Taylor and her fiance, Zachary Cummings, spared no expense on the design of their enormous abode in Pinecrest, FL, outfitting it with all manner of over-the-top amenities, including a 70-foot resort-style pool, an Hermès bar, and a Fendi-designed kitchen.

Set on 1.27 acres in one of Miami’s most premier neighborhoods, the newly completed nine-bedroom, 10-bathroom residence spans 11,285 square feet and blends ultra-luxury finishes with resort-inspired living. 

In short, the dwelling offers almost everything a wealthy homeowner could ever want from a mansion—and, for a time, Taylor and Cummings were convinced it would end up being their perfect "forever home."

The couple began building the home a few years after they met and "fell in love," explaining to Realtor.com® that they wanted to create a property that was customized in every single way imaginable, from the materials used to the final finishes.

“We fell in love, we wanted a house for ourselves, we went through all the groundwork, and built it from the ground up," they explained. "Detailed it completely to our liking, put the finest materials and marbles and slabs and walnut wood we can find. We shopped all over Italy for Fendi, an Hermès bar, you name it, for us."

The couple explained that the property was initially envisioned as the ultimate family sanctuary—one they intended to enjoy for years to come.

But, having moved into what they thought would be a temporary dwelling while work was completed on their custom abode, they decided to capitalize on Miami's booming housing market by listing the expansive property.

“Basically, we were building a house for ourselves,” they shared. “And, mid-construction, we were just like, ‘OK, we need a place to live,' and we found another place while we were still in the construction of this property."

“And, the market boomed. Recently, Miami skyrocketed in real estate, and we decided to put it on the market." 

When work was finally completed on the residence this year, instead of calling in moving trucks, the couple brought in listing agent Julian Johnston of Corcoran to help them sell it, with the description calling careful attention to the many high-quality materials and top-of-the-line craftsmanship the duo poured into its design.

The sprawling residence features limestone floors, Venetian plaster walls, a sleek Italian-designed kitchen, and a dramatic glass-encased great room overlooking a sunken conversation firepit and towering fountain wall.

Outside, the property delivers a true resort-style experience, complete with a private putting green, sand bunker, sunken courtyard, and lush tropical landscaping that the owners say was intentionally designed to create the feeling of a “secret sanctuary.”

“We wanted privacy. But not just privacy, where you, you know, you cover your neighbors. We wanted lush gardens,” one owner explained. “We have plants and trees inside this, this property that has aged over 100 years. We have exotic, exotic plants that you can't even purchase, in any nursery.” 

The homeowners also stressed that the property differs dramatically from a traditional speculative luxury build because every detail was selected for their personal lifestyle rather than resale value.

“This is not a spec house,” they said. “This is a luxury property made to order. Specifically, specifically for our tastes.” 

“So we went very, very, very high, ultra-luxury for us. Yes. And therefore, you can't find that in a spec house,” they continued. “Everything is very bespoke, from the Hermès bar to the two-and-a-half-story water cascading fountain.” 

According to Taylor and Cummings, the residence was intentionally crafted to balance sleek modern architecture with warmth and livability—something they felt was lacking in many contemporary homes.

“We wanted to create something that had modernity because we enjoy modern houses,” they said. “But also what a lot of modern houses lack is warmth.” 

They pointed to the home’s sky bridges, cascading waterfalls, museum-like corridors, and carefully curated landscaping as features that help distinguish the property from other luxury listings currently flooding the South Florida market.

“A lot of the houses in Pinecrest, while they're amazing, a lot of them are becoming cookie cutter, and that's kind of what separates a spec house from something like this,” they said.

The couple ultimately described the estate as the pinnacle of everything they love about architecture, design, and entertaining.

“This house is a secret sanctuary. It is the top of the food chain in architecture. It is the top of the food chain in landscape architecture. It's unparalleled to any house in all of South Florida.”

Construction on the residence took approximately 24 months, with the owners revealing that they approached every design decision through the lens of building their “forever home.”

“The entire mindset, the whole entire time was, ‘What do you like for our bedroom? What do you like for the kids' bedrooms?’" they shared. "It was getting the finest, best quality things for our forever home, where we would even host a wedding there or have a huge bash to commemorate the finishing.” 

Although the home was completed in March 2026, the owners revealed they never officially moved in. 

Instead, the pair said the project evolved into something even bigger for them professionally and personally.

“Honestly, it is just such a gem,” they explained when asked why they decided to sell. “It was turning into such an incredible project that we were focusing on together, and we enjoyed working together so badly.

“It just took our relationship to the next level, because now we're not just life partners, but we're business partners."