" a valance vs a full sheer. " Is this a typo?

You want draperies with sheers underneath. Your husband wants valances over the transoms and nothing over the doors?

yes sounds off right

So the sheers and drapery rods would be mounted above the transom? Then if you want only the transom heat blocked, you have to block out the doors too. Are the blinds on the doors going to stay? What about a more traditional look where you have a valence cornice that blocks the transoms, but allows you to have drapery panels (if the blinds stay) and or sheers. It might help to know the look you are going for in the room. And with all that glass without fabric, does it look unfinished? Or noisy?

I'm not sure how the second picture relates to the first. I don't think there is enough stack room for draperies/sheers on the right, unless you allow the window to be partially covered.

In any event, the valence in place now doesn't seem quite right for the LR.

I’m confused too.

The posted picture with a covering on the transom only looks unattractive to me. The transom windows are beautiful bare. They look expensive but they’re covered up with a very old fashioned valance-like thing.

What is your goal? Temperature control? Light control? Privacy?

I’m confused too. Are these doors with transom windows both in your house but one in LR & other in bedroom? Seems like different light controls needed for each room’s purpose. Agree the valance doesn’t work at all appearance wise. The LR doors have more issues with using drapery panels because there’s not enough wall space on either side of the doors for panels to stack back off the doors which will cause issues with view. Not sure if the outside panels on either set open or if just glass - don’t see any door handles except on center panel.

in the BR there is once door, it has one handle door with two doors that do not open, transom across the top. The BR came with that blackout valance already (I hate it) it does bring alot of light and heat. the blinds are removable (screwed on) 

In the LR there are three sets of these doors, the moddle door on each opens and the two on either side do not. transom across each door.  again brings lots of light and heat, the blinds are also removeable.

Ok - so different needs for each room. Bedroom easiest since there’s wall space on both sides of door/ windows. Looks like drapes hung from rod just below crown at ceiling will cover both transom & windows. You probably want to block both light & heat & view not as much of an issue. The same treatment could be used on the window on adjacent wall. LR is bigger issue with 3 of those doors / windows along one wall? Please post pic of that entire wall so we can see what the wall space around windows is like.

What about some window film, then you can do normal drapes.

Thought about window film too but maybe for LR only. It would help with heat on transome windows but don’t think it’d be darkening enough for bedroom.

I installed mirror window film on a south facing large window (I live in a desert, summers can be 100+). The difference is huge! I can see out but it blocks all of the glare and heat, and doesn't let my staircase fade. After calling multiple window film installers I could not find anyone who wanted to do a small residential project....so I got the Gila brand film from HD to give it a try before investing in a better product...it's still up 3 years later ;)