How Josh + Matt went from millennial grey to a world of rainbows
When we were thinking about our dream collaborators to help us launch The Rainbow Standard, there were two names that instantly jumped out: one was Josh and the other was Matt.
For a locker this special – the only rainbow locker we've ever made for purchase, and one that gives 50% of sales to Outright International – we wanted to go big. So, to give this colourful creation the debut she deserves, we paired up with the internet's favourite maximalists! Josh + Matt chatted to us about their personal style evolution and identity, as well as our new favourite piece of furniture… The Rainbow Standard!
goodbye, grey
Ask Josh and Matt to describe their style, and you'll get a description that sounds somewhere between a magical theme park and Willy Wonka's personal playground. "It's a technicolour rollercoaster," they agree. With their eclectic wonderland home – there's a conversation pit lined with aquariums, a giant nose above the bed, and a kaleidoscope of lighting – it's surprising to hear that just four years ago, the pair lived in an apartment with a neutral colour scheme.
"We've always dressed colourfully, but we didn't start putting colour into our home until we were in lockdown in Sydney," Josh explains. "We were stuck at home, and we realised that the white walls, grey couch, everything black and grey, was making us crazy. We needed colour in the house to survive lockdown! And that's how it started."
They invested in a set of blue dining chairs first. "We thought we were so brave!" Josh laughs. "We just decided to do what we wanted to do, and we started sharing it. It turned out that a lot more people were willing to be part of that journey than we realised!"
With over two million followers amassed on both Instagram and TikTok, that feels like the understatement of the century.
"No one stays the same, so why should your home stay the same?"
finding flow
A business naturally followed. Josh & Matt Design grew out of the duo's desire to create renter-friendly home decor pieces. But the pair's style evolution was an organic one. "We did lots of upcycling to develop our style," Matt says. "A lot of the stuff we buy is second-hand, so it's not something we can necessarily plan. We see the object and then think about where it might fit in our home."
Josh thinks that a free-flowing approach is part of the magic. "The interior world can tell you that you need to have a solid plan before you start anything. But for us, it's more 'work it out as you go.' You know, we could have never planned having a giant nose above the bed! That's the fun in it. I feel like we are led by the energy of an object."
The iconic nose almost didn't make it to pride of place above their bed – it took some serious convincing for Matt to agree to bring it home! But Josh employed their ethos to get him across the line: "We aren't afraid to fail," he says. "If we don't like it, or it's a mistake, then we just change it up. No one stays the same, so why should your home stay the same?"
"We want to kind of disrupt the industry, and we've got some quirky ideas."
long-term love
The ultimate test, according to Matt, is whether the pair can envision a piece fitting into their lives forever. "We have a very long-term mindset. If we're buying something, we're imagining that we're going to be keeping it for our lifetime." Josh adds, "Yeah, we're going to have the best estate sale ever. People are going to be so excited for us to die!"
They've got a lot of living to do first, though. Josh and Matt are planning their wedding and preparing to launch an incense and home fragrance range. "It's still very early stages," says Josh. "We want to kind of disrupt the industry, and we've got some quirky ideas, so watch this space!
Next, they're bringing The Rainbow Standard home with them – and they've already picked out the perfect spot. This colourful creation feels custom-made for Josh and Matt's personality-packed home, but it represents something deeper, too.
"It wasn't easy for us, first starting out and being our authentic selves," Josh explains. "We still struggle with it, I mean we don't really do PDA. That's why organisations like Outright International are so important, to help the next generation and all members of the LGBTIQ+ community to be who they are, and create a safe space. We're all about authenticity and reflecting yourself in the home, and you need to start with being comfortable with who you are first before you can do that."
The pair's signature sign-off, 'lots of love,' takes on a whole new meaning when you put it like that.
NEWS FLASH!
The Rainbow Standard officially sold out worldwide! We're SO PROUD to announce our donation of $75,400 to Outright International – thank you to everyone who took a Rainbow Standard home to help build a more inclusive world.
