It is a home that was made for music. The original owners who commissioned 4310 Rawlins Street in Dallas had one wish: that music be heard throughout the house, as the piano played and people sang. The architect and builder met the challenge, brilliantly. And, oh, did those melodies flow — through a remarkably open floor plan for the 1920s, through the two-story center hall, up the staircase and even through unique window-like openings in upstairs bedrooms that open onto that grand hall. Even the tops of some walls curve seamlessly into ceilings — a little acoustical boost for every note and nuance.

Today, that glorious, creative spirit lives on, now subtly augmented with all the modern luxuries. Built in 1925 in the then-new Perry Heights — a most peaceful and tree-filled neighborhood in the heart of bustling Oak Lawn — 4310 Rawlins Street is more than a setting for a genteel life: It is an icon in a neighborhood all about quality, elegance and charm.

An impressive 100 years old in 2025, the home’s understated, Mission-style architecture has transcended time. Stately and solid, it brims with originality and handcrafted details inside and out, including decorative exterior window trim, chimney quoins, thickly plastered interior walls and sinuous wrought-iron staircase railings, handmade by an artisan said to have created the decorative ironwork for Highland Park Village and many noble homes of Lakewood.

The 3,616-square-foot home was built for entertaining on any scale — intimate to grand — and has hosted charity functions, small gatherings, large groups and dinner parties, all with wonderful memories made. And the music still flows today, from a grand piano in the living room. That large room and the large dining room work together with the large center hall to promote convivial flow, while the spacious kitchen is up to any task. It features a breakfast bar, built-in china-and-glassware cabinet and updated stainless-steel appliances that include a Sub-Zero refrigerator, Avallon two-door wine refrigerator and Scotsman ice maker. A handy butler’s pantry is adjacent, outfitted with a convection wall oven, beverage center, sink, ice maker and washer/dryer. On this level, too, is a cozy family room complete with built-in bookcases, fireplace and wall of windows and French doors that open to the backyard.

Upstairs, there are three spacious bedrooms, one a primary retreat with a large sitting area and an updated, travertine-lined private bath with a double vanity and glass-walled shower. A unique catwalk at the top of the staircase not only connects the main suite’s side of the home to the other side (which includes the two other bedrooms and an updated second bath) but also affords a thrilling view to the center hall below.

The backyard oasis here is a thrill, too. Its sleek, contemporary pool and patio make an exciting contrast to the historic architecture of the main home. The amenities include an outdoor grill console, a relaxing spa integrated with the pool and a vertical-jet fountain that provides the soothing sounds of burbling water. A two-story guesthouse/garage at the back of the property is the ultimate in hospitality, with 607 square feet of renovated guest quarters on the second floor that offer a large living room/bedroom, large kitchenette and large bath with glass-walled steam shower. (A full-size washer/dryer in the quarters is a thoughtful touch.) The long cobblestone driveway is so attractive that it doubles as extra event space for large outdoor gatherings and dinners. Another thoughtful — and reassuring — feature is a Generac full-property generator for both the house and the guesthouse/garage.

Perry Heights is a genuine hidden gem in Dallas. It is named for businessman and builder E. Gordon Perry, and the advertisements of the day pitched the small, private neighborhood as “a charming home-place, holding every metropolitan convenience without any of the inconveniences.”