The Rainey Collection: A Modernized Take with Unique Character

Our Rainey Collection is named after the iconic Austin neighborhood, Rainey Street. This neighborhood is known for its eclectic bars, historic homes, and new 48-story residential towers. The Rainey Collection embodies all of these elements - it's slim, elegant, and like the neighborhood itself, is a modernized take on past design.

Whether you're looking for a piece of furniture that pays homage to Austin's rich history or you're just looking for something unique, the Rainey Collection is sure to have what you're looking for.

 

A Brief History of Rainey Street

Rainey Street is one of the oldest streets in Austin, Texas. CultureMap Austin covered the origins of how the street came to be. Jesse Driskill (cattle baron and proprietor of The Driskill Hotel) and Frank Rainey (confederate Army veteran) picked out the original 120-acre neighborhood in 1884. Since then, homes were built between 1885 and 1937, but several of the original homes were wiped out by the devastating flood of 1935.

 

An old bungalow-style home that used to exist on Rainey Street that is now a Sports Bar called Bar 96. Image courtesy of Texas Historical Commission and the Austin Convention & Visitor's Bureau.

Several homes were rebuilt in a bungalow style and Rainey Street returned to a relaxed, simple neighborhood. However, with its location near downtown, it was only a matter of time before developers started to move in.

For a few decades, Rainey Street experienced a period of calm due to activists fighting to preserve its historical significance. In 1985, Rainey Street Historic District was listed with the National Register of Historic Places and remained a neighborhood for housing until 2004 and 2005.

Rainey Street's Food Truck Park. Image source: Austin Towers.

In recent years, Rainey Street has undergone a major transformation. The street is now lined with trendy bars, restaurants, and cafes. New residential towers have also been built, giving the neighborhood a more modern feel.

Despite all of the changes that have taken place on Rainey Street, one thing remains the same - its unique character. This is what inspired us to name our furniture collection after this iconic Austin street.

 

The Rainey Collection

Here is the Rainey sofa. It has a mid-century modern design, with its clean lines and wooden tapered legs. The rich jewel-toned color of the fabric it's upholstered in, Superb Peacock, is just one of the many colors you can get your Rainey sofa customized in.

If you're looking for a smaller version of the Rainey sofa, consider the Rainey loveseat. It's perfect for smaller spaces like your own Austin apartment, or if you just need some extra seating for guests. No matter the reason, the Rainey loveseat will add a touch of elegance to your home.

The Rainey armchair has a standard seat depth for that allows you to sink into and relax after a long day. This chair is perfect for reading nooks or as a sophisticated mid-century modern accent chair in your living room. The Rainey armchair is also available in a wide variety of colors, so you can find the perfect one to match your home's style.

 

A Touch of History in a Modernized Couch

Whether you're a long-time Austin resident, visiting for the weekend, or just simply interested in a mid-century modern couch with a deeper connection, the Rainey Collection has furniture with a touch of history sewn into the cushions.

Couch Potatoes is a furniture store that hasn't been around as long as the namesake neighborhood of the Rainey Collection, but we like to think we have the same unique character. Our couches are made locally in our warehouse located in Austin, Texas. We also offer extensive customization options from the fabric or leather of your couch, to the legs, to the configuration. If you're interested in checking us out, we have locations in Central and South Austin.