window vs furniture battle

October 28, 2021 8:54 AM

How to access a window with a desk in front?

Our only option for a long desk in our small room is to put it in front of a double-hung window. The desk's depth is about 2 feet, the window ledge will be 6" below desk height, and that'll make the reach and pulling up the window (opening & closing) quite a challenge. We don't think stepping up on the desk is a great solution, looking for alternatives.
Possibly a tool to push/pull it down?
We think this problem must be common in office buildings.
How do folks comfortably access windows like this?

posted by artdrectr to Home & Garden (10 answers total)

Can you raise and lower the upper sash and keep the lower sash closed?
posted by vitout at 9:13 AM on October 28, 2021

Would some sort of window opening pole work? Eg https://keyliteblinds.com/accessories/
posted by oceano at 10:07 AM on October 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

If there's room to walk around the side of it, set the desk a foot away from the window instead of right up against it.

(My wife just asks her monkey-armed husband to do it.)
posted by Press Butt.on to Check at 10:48 AM on October 28, 2021

I have a horizontally-sliding window blocked by my workbench's shelves and am in the process of building a stepper motor driver to slide the window remotely with a threaded rod/nut. That's probably overkill and I'm not 100% sure I'll have enough torque to make it work, but right now my process involves trying to reach between things on my bench to reach the window, which is suboptimal to say the least.
posted by Alterscape at 11:07 AM on October 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

Um, while I wish I was as cool as Alterscape, I just pull the desk away from the wall at one end, slide in, open the window, slide out, push the desk back. YMMV.
posted by nkknkk at 11:12 AM on October 28, 2021 [4 favorites]

Response by poster: Alterscape: love the concept, and I wish you best of luck that your window slides easily, and frame doesn't bust.

No room to walk around it, and pita to move long heavy desk with computer/monitors.

Following up on oceano's comment, I searched 'sash window opening poles' which DOES indeed seem to be a thing, with accompanying hardware on the sash ('pole eye').
Wow. This may be the answer!
posted by artdrectr at 11:31 AM on October 28, 2021

Put a pulley on the ceiling, screw a couple loops into the window frame, attach rope (clothesline gauge), hoist when desired. you'll need separate ropes to pull it down.
posted by theora55 at 1:22 PM on October 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

Put the desk on casters (and make the desk shorter to compensate)?
posted by amtho at 1:29 PM on October 28, 2021

You are looking for a sliding window actuator.
posted by srboisvert at 5:56 PM on October 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

I crawl under my desk (which is set a little forward from the wall) when I need to get to the window behind it, but then I have no dignity.
posted by ManyLeggedCreature at 2:18 AM on October 29, 2021 [1 favorite]