Are you happy with the sunlight transmittal now? It will change over a year. Do you want to keep it open for a year to see how the light moves?

No, it's a dark suite and it is what it is. I can only do so much (I think?). The only alternative I could see, is having a long window down the first stud bay, and then two evenly sized transoms at the top.

That said - I am concerned with doing too much too. I already have two openings in the same plane (the kitchen, and the doorway in the picture).

I reread your post. Two east facing windows are not going to get you sunlight from the southwest. Or is there another window in the bedroom? Perhaps a consultation with a lighting designer would open some options for you. There are panel LEDs that look like skylights, for example.

Why are you reducing the height of the transom and windows? Proportionally (to the size of the wall and doorway) they look pretty good now. Can you just enclose/cover the two center windows and have the 3 on each side?

apple_pie_order: You are correct, my explanation wasn't the best.

Basically the situation is, as the sun passes in front of the building throughout the day, my Bedroom is significantly brighter than my living room. Accordingly, the transom is intended to improve the space in three ways:

1) Allow afternoon sun from the bedroom to lightly emanate into the living room. Conversely, also allowing the morning sun from the living room to emanate into the bedroom (which has blackout blinds).

2) I have top-down bottom-up blinds. Because I spend most of my time in the living room (to which the kitchen is attached), I prefer to have my living room blinds half up/half down to provide privacy. I do not mind keeping my brighter bedroom blinds wide open and the transom allows me to take advantage of this light in my primary living area.

3) Help bring light into the front of the suite, where the entrance and kitchen are.

Although it is a modest effect, psychologically it is slightly better. The dark cavernous living room has been plaguing me since I moved in. Although I am a novice renovator and am certainly not a designer, while I've got the place ripped apart (no floors, site protection up, etc.), I figured i'd seize the opportunity and give the transom a go.

Olychick: I suppose I am not hell-set on reducing the height. However, my reasoning was two fold:

1) at the current height, you can see through to the light in the bedroom, or the fan in the living room. If the height is reduced, the angle of viewing for most people will be cut off. Similarly, you could look the transom on the wall, into the one over the bedroom door.

2) Although the ceilings are 8.5', I feel like with reduced height, the wall space will still feel ample and will be able to accommodate a shelf above the TV without feeling cramped.

>Can you just enclose/cover the two center windows and have the 3 on each side?

Yes, definitely possible, and not actually an option I had considered. I am unsure if I want to build between the studs. They are 16" on centre so roughly 15" opening, after adding finishing material they will be maybe 14" at the widest. I am having a hard time visualizing what 6 or 7x 14" windows would like compared with two long boxes. I was thinking of cutting the studs and building 2 boxes flush to the conduit. One would be 70" long, and the other would be ~55" long.

I may tack in a piece of a drywall to get a feel for the "between the studs" configuration.

...

You can add sheer curtains to the windows. They'll give you daytime privacy. That's useful regardless of how you structure interior clerestory windows. Easy to try with tension rods that don't need permanent mounts.

Before you permanently reduce their height, I would tape some paper over the openings to see what they look like shorter. I think they are going to look like odd little slits if they are much smaller. I don't think seeing the fixtures from adjoining rooms is objectionable.

I'd close up the left-most opening and the one with the wire so you had six openings in two triples. That closed-up wall at the left would balance the closed wall between the triple-transom at the right and the single transom over the door.

Transoms Direct: https://transomsdirect.com/how-to-install-a-transom-window-overhead-in-a-wall/

-- amateur