I like that they detail where I can frame walls, partitions, and how I should lay out what's always a limited space in a bathroom.

That was the challenge I just faced. To make it work we installed a 4-foot bathtub. We also did a 3/4 high (about 7 feet) shower wall to let light get into the shower area from the new window.

But code and recommendations sometimes only take you so far. For example, if I were planning a full addition to a property, I'd have the room to plan in these minimums -- at the minimum. But as a remodeler of old homes I'd need a variance for every bathroom I ever did; my building department knows that so we do what works in the space we have. Nevertheless I find that these recommendations are still useful. I can use them as benchmarks in working with customers. I can even hand them off to prospective customers so they can get a sense of what their bathroom looks like.

One area where you really can't skimp is the shower. A person can either fit in there and move around or not. Minimum code for a shower stall (I often makes these to fit the space, so this is good to know) is 900 cubic inches. To gauge this in real life, cut a 30 inch diameter disc out of cardboard. If you can pass that through the interior space of your planned shower, then it meets minimum code. Nice tip.

What's your bathroom bible? Your design rules for the bathroom road? What tips can you share?