John Tusher founded Velocity Art and Design in 1999. His beliefs reflect the personal values and style of doing business that guided John from the start. Velocity Art and Design is comprised of knowledgeable, helpful, and dedicated people passionate about continuing this vision. It is a business committed to enriching lives through the life-enhancing elements of art and design. A comprehensive website, curated Seattle showroom, and supplemental social endeavors, each in their own way, promote the importance of creativity and quality. Home furnishings and artwork embody standards of innovation, accessibility, humor, responsibility, and visual joy.
I couldn't be more proud to call John one of my closest and dearest friends, he continually inspires me both in life and in design. I couldn't ask for anything more!
What is your greatest extravagance?
Flying first class, especially internationally, even though it’s through my air miles, I still feel like a rock star. Have you ever been tucked into bed at 35,000 feet with a glass of Champagne, pajamas and slippers? Yeah, it’s pretty amazing.
What career would you pursue if you weren’t doing what you do now?
I would be living part time in Los Angeles and working in the industry on a doc-dram-edy tv show with my best friend. Actually, I think that still might happen WHILE doing what I’m doing now. Why not have it all?
Which living person do you most admire?
I don’t know about most admire, that’s really tough to limit it down to one. I really admire people that follow their dreams, or create something original through their hard work. I admire people who seemingly do things with a sense of humor and don’t take themselves too seriously. I would say someone like Tina Fey, but I don’t know her personally, and she might be an awful person right? I admire people who do things in the face of others telling them that they can’t or shouldn’t. Everyone told Tom Ford not to make movies, but did you see A Single Man? Tom Ford and Tina Fey? Those are terrible..this question is too hard.. next…
What three things can’t you live without?
My son, my king Charles cavalier Rocco, and my friends.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Massages, wine, and a long bath. I’m a secret-unabashed-sensualist. I think I might have been a cat in another life.
What is your favorite color combination?
This changes like the weather, but I’m still really loving grey as a base with a color for accent..like brass. Always with plenty of wood.
What is the favorite room in your house, and why?
Seeing as how I’ve just moved into a new, fairly cookie cutter apartment, it’s not quite decked out yet. I will say that I love my little entry nook library/desk. I can’t live without my design library, but it also houses my small, but sentimental globe collection, a seascape painting by my Nana who was a painter, a foo dog that she had her entire life that I played with as a boy, a few rare couture Adler vases from the beginning days of Velocity, my music collection, photos, etc. It’s amazing how much of a person’s life you can squeeze into a 4 x 6 space.
What is the most memorable event you’ve attended and why?
I would have to say the birth of my son. That was a powerful and unforgettable experience to finally meet such an amazing person.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
That I started Velocity in my basement selling Beanie Babies on ebay. Oh yes, it’s true.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Pessimism, dishonesty, tardiness (in myself and others), and dishes in the sink.
I think the biggest thing this little list of questions will make you realize about me is that I can be all over the board, and yet have a laser focus when needed, although obviously I forgot to pay the laser-focus-bill when it came to answering these. It was fun though!
