Creating an Arched or Transom Doorway

Reference Number: KB-00310

Last Modified: July 23, 2021

The information in this article appliesto:

Home Designer Professional or Home Designer Architectural or HomeDesigner Suite

QUESTION

How do I add an arched or transom doorway to my plan?

ANSWER

An arched or transom doorway can be added to a plan in Home Designer by using the Doorway Library.

Adding an arched or transom doorway from the library

If you do not see the Library Browser, select View> Library Browser to turn on its display.
Navigate to Architectural> Doors & Doorways> Entryways.
From the list, choose an appropriate opening.
Lastly, click a wall on the plan. The arched or transom doorway will be added to the plan.

Creating an arched or transom doorway

Select File> Open Plan from the menu to open a plan in which you would like to create a mulled window unit, or select File> New Plan to open a new, blank plan.
Before windows can be created, walls must be in place. Select Build> Walls> Exterior Walls from the menu to draw the exterior walls of your plan.
In floor plan view, select Build> Door> Hinged Door from the menu, then click on an exterior wall to place a door at that location.
While still in your floor plan, go to Build> Door> Fixed Door to place side lites on each side of the door.
Go to Build> Window> Window from the menu, then place a window off to the side. This will become the transom above the door.
To see the door, side lites, and window in 3D, select 3D> Create Camera View> Full Camera from the menu, then click and drag a camera arrow on the exterior of your floor plan, facing the door created in step 3.

In Home Designer Pro, navigate to 3D> Create Perspective View> Full Camera instead.
Click on each side lite to select it and use the Move edit handle to move it so that it bumps against the door.
Click on the window off to the side to select it click the Open Object edit button. In the Window Specification dialog:
- On the General panel, change the Window Type to Fixed Glass and set the Width and the Height so that it spans the two side lites and doors.
- Click OK to close the dialog and apply your changes to this window.
Click on the window to select it, then use the Move edit handle to move the window above the side lites and door. Leave a space between the windows and release.

To move an object such as this window through obstructions such as the ceiling in this plan, press the Ctrl key on your keyboard, then move the object with the Move edit handle.
Finally, use the Move edit handle to drag the window down so it bumps the top of the site lites and door.