Remembrance Day is the only thing that can make our grey bleak November weather seem exactly right. The sound of the distant pipes; the few old men who still march to the cenotaph in berets and medals; the young cadets standing with heads bowed and hands crossed on rifles at each corner of the square…

And more than anything, what really catches me in the back of the throat, every year the same, is the sudden deep booming sound of the cannons’ salute — those big guns echoing down the years and down the river valley, from village to village, each small community with its own memorial cairn, its own group of silent observers to wipe away a windstruck tear, and its own list of long-ago farmboys’ names to be read aloud on 11 November.

But like the brave red poppies of Flanders fields and Remembrance wreaths, those bright red sparks against the grey of rainclouds and gravestones, there’s something indomitably bright in the human spirit. And as long as we can see those poppies bud and bloom — in the fields of Normandy, or in fields of hope and imagination — surely, all is not lost.

Photo: amandabhslater

Sun rooms, three-season rooms, Florida rooms, whatever you want to call them, more of us are finding ways to bring a little outdoors inside.

Fancy iron-work (think French cafe style) or comfy cottage wicker are popular furniture choices, with a pillow-heaped day bed for lounging with a lemonade on a hot summer day.

Now, imagine if you could extend the blend of outdoor-nature and interior style, to blur the line between home and garden. Add a jungle of potted house plants — over-sized, grouped in corners or on either side of the patio doors, with a single lovely piece of garden art nestled among the greenery.

Appeal to all the senses. Scented candles, or simply a few arrangements of aromatic herbs and flowers, are a soothing delight. And what about a delicate set of windchimes near an open window, or the soft water-music of an indoor fountain, perhaps wall-mounted if space is an issue?

Keep the colours light and airy, to continue the sense of space and freedom you draw from outside — with a rich splash of accent colour to mirror your favourite flowers.

The back wall, facing the garden, might feature a textured finish (faux stone?) or even a wall mural to continue the illusion.

Try a little trompe l’oeil painting if you’re artistically inclined. Or consider a pre-printed wall mural, as durable and easy to install as any good quality vinyl wallpaper. MuralsYourWay.com has a terrific selection from Monet’s poppy-splashed masterpieces to the frankly fantasy garden, and will also print custom murals from your own photographs or original artwork.