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Off the wall

Art of glass

If you're planning to visit France this summer, make a pilgrimage to Wingen-sur-Moder in Alsace. The village has been home to Rene Lalique's glass-making business for 90 years and now boasts a museum dedicated to the avant-garde artist. Musee Lalique (below) displays art-nouveau and art-deco glass and crystal designs - perfume bottles, jewellery, tableware and lighting - created by Lalique and his heirs. The museum itself is also something of a work of art. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte sympathetically incorporated the existing glassworks factory into his design and blended the new stone-covered concrete and glass structure into the stunning landscape. An added surprise is an ornamental garden in the middle of the museum. See www.musee-lalique.com.

All singing, all dancing

The words 'ballet dancer' and 'toilet' don't often appear in the same sentence, but bath- room designer Kohler has brought us this unlikely pairing in the form of the Numi (HK$78,000). The 'smart' toilet and bidet has a so-called 'ballet-dancing' automatic lid, which is triggered by floor-level sensors, allowing a hygienic, hands- free approach. And forget seat warming - this baby has a function that will leave you feeling positively toasty. A personal- ised bidet element offers multiple water-pattern settings (we kid you not) that adjust water pressure and temperature, while an ultraviolet disinfecting function and a deodorising charcoal filter will keep your bathroom free of odours. The LCD touch screen allows functions to be customised for up to six users. And if that's not entertaining enough, there's a built-in FM radio and iPod dock. Call 3125 7728 for stockists' details.

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