Inject colour and personality into your living space with the ultimate bar cart.
There’s a tiny Melbourne apartment making serious waves on TikTok – a kaleidoscopic mashup of colour and texture that belongs to power couple Josh Jessup and Matt Moss (AKA Josh and Matt Design). These nineties nostalgics are the new authority on OTT aesthetic, and with the inaugural Decoded Spirits Awards hot off the press, we sought out their styling tips for the ultimate space-saving bar cart.
But before we get down to business, a little more on the design duo themselves. Josh has a background in design and Matt is an IT professional, but the pandemic gave them a unique opportunity to launch their passion project, Josh and Matt Design, to the world.
“It all started around the first Sydney lockdown,” says Josh. “I was working a retail job at the time, so I couldn’t go into work anymore. We just had all this free time and were having a bit of an existential crisis. Decorating our apartment became a kind of therapy session,” he says. “We just started going crazy with art, design and DIY.”
Drawing inspiration from design icons like Memphis Milano and Kelly Wearstler, their brand of curated maximalism has gone viral, featuring in publications like The Design Files and Architectural Digest. Today, Josh and Matt broadcast their creations to hundreds of thousands of followers online, championing colour and creativity.
If you’re tight on room but looking to inject a healthy dose of colour and personality into your living space, there’s no better place to start than your bar cart. Get the lowdown on dialling up the colour with Josh and Matt’s five tips to an OTT bar cart below.
If you want to ruin your algorithm, just type ‘bar cart’ into Google. It’s guaranteed to sneak hundreds of options into your social feeds, inbox and banner ads. There’s just one problem. They all look the bloody same! But don’t worry, you can escape the ubiquity of fast furniture if you look in the right places.
“We always encourage people to buy vintage,” says Josh. “Not only do you often save money, but you also find unique one-of-a-kind pieces. Vintage stores are great if you can find some locally; otherwise, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are treasure troves. There are even some great curators on Instagram like Curated Spaces and Good Space.”
Look out for something that works with your existing furniture, or use this as an opportunity to experiment with a new direction. And don’t be disheartened if the piece you want shows some signs of wear. You’ll be surprised how far a little bit of TLC goes.
Remember, this is all about making the most out of what little space you have. Give yourself room to play without cluttering your space by laying the foundations with the right piece.
“It’s absolutely crucial to go for a multi-level bar cart,” says Matt. “You need to maximise the usable area, so having multiple levels will double or triple your space.” Plus, all that extra real estate will give you greater flexibility to balance out your bottles and styling items, eliminating that dreaded sense of clutter.
You’ll also want to consider the textures and materials. “Finish is important,” says Matt. “You want your bar cart to be an extension of the room. Transparent finishes like glass, resin or plastic will naturally let light through, helping the room feel more open and giving the impression of space.” Incorporating reflective elements will also help to keep things bright and airy.
Okay, this is where things get fun. First things first: the drinks! Working with limited space gives you licence to be utterly selfish. Stick to the stuff you love or discover a new drop and pick a winner from this year’s Decoded Spirits Awards.
“My favourite drink is a Mojito, so a good white rum is essential,” says Matt. “It’s also nice to have something alcohol free.” Gordons 0% gin is a must for weeknight G&Ts with all the flavour. For Josh, variety is key. “It’s good to have options. I like a ginger-spiced rum for something a little different,” he says. “And vodka. Especially for when we’re going back and forth.” Old Young's Pavlova Vodka makes a mean French Martini, but slips into place just as well with a dash of soda and lime.
Keep that same energy for your bric-a-brac and accessories. “People often put a lot of effort into styling but forget about the functional side of it,” says Josh. “There’s no point having pretty flowers and vases everywhere if you’re going to knock them over trying to make a drink. A beautiful decanter is a great way to incorporate a statement piece that you’ll actually use.”
Context is everything. Give your cart a sense of belonging by styling around it. This will tie your cart into the rest of the room and breathe new life into any pieces you already have.
“Hanging a painting or artwork behind the cart will add to the story,” says Josh. Pick up one of Josh and Matt’s own creations, like the Melbourne Memphis Wall Splatter or a set of Splash Wall Sculptures, to really nail the vibe. “If you have some cute stools or a nice chair that’s perfect for sipping cocktails in, style them alongside the cart,” says Josh. His pick? “For me, it’s got to be the Togo chair. It’s been a dream piece of ours, and it’s the most insanely comfortable chair.”
Whether you’re a newcomer to colour or a well-seasoned maximalist already, this is your chance to play with new ideas and make your aesthetic match your personality.
“Just have fun with it,” says Matt. “Don't get too worried about how it's gonna turn out. You can always tweak and rearrange things. At the end of the day, a bar cart is for good drinks and good times.”
