Interior Transoms

Bring light above the doorway with a custom solid wood interior transom. Choose a fixed design to share light between rooms, or discuss a hinged configuration where you also want the transom to open.

An interior transom window sits above the door, allowing light to pass between rooms while the door stays closed. It can help share daylight with a hall or connect adjoining spaces visually at a higher level than glass in the door itself.

That higher position leaves more of the wall at eye level enclosed. Consider the room’s use, the height of the opening and the glass you choose when planning the view between spaces. A transom can sit above a single door, a pair of doors, or an assembly that includes interior sidelights.

Choose fixed or hinged operation
A fixed transom provides light through glass that stays in place. Hinged interior transoms are also available, with configurations that tip up or out. If you want ventilation between rooms, discuss the opening direction and hardware with us as part of the design.

Plan how you will reach or operate a hinged transom and leave room for its movement. Nearby trim and ceiling details can affect that clearance, so include them when discussing the setup with our team.

Relate the shape to the doorway
A rectangular transom can continue the straight lines of the frame, while an arched, round or elliptical shape introduces a curve above the door. Glass divisions can align with the door below, and a wider assembly can use a continuous transom or separate sections.

Clear tempered glass is standard. Decorative choices include beveled, glue-chip, acid-etched and stained glass, depending on the design. Consider the pattern alongside any glass interior doors below it, especially when the two are seen together from across the room.

Coordinate the frame and finish
Interior transoms use solid wood stile-and-rail construction, with a standard thickness of 1½ inches and a 1¾-inch option. We can supply the transom separately or framed with a jamb. Include the available height above the door and the wall depth when planning the installation.

African Mahogany is our standard wood, with a natural grain that complements a stained door and surrounding trim. All 17 interior woods are available for coordinating with existing or new woodwork. Transoms arrive unfinished, with guidance for sealing and finishing before installation.

Select a design above to customize your interior transom online. Our craftspeople are available to help with the proportions, glass or operating details. Visit our Transoms overview to compare interior, exterior, and screen and storm applications.