I'm trying to use litestep for the purpose of limiting the size of windows when maximized, but at the same time I'd still like to use the regular task bar and desktop. Any ideas on how I can make this happen? So far I've modified the Darkzone RM theme to limit my windows but I'm unsure of where to go from here to see the desktop icons and stuff again.

Adjust the desktop area. Look in the docs for either jdesk or desktop2, depending on which module the theme uses, and adjust the left/right/top/bottom borders as needed.

I've already done that, I need to know how to get Windows items to show up again. For the moment I am running explorer and litestep simultaneously, but that has lot's of problems so I don't want to continue that.

If you want to use the windows task bar and such then you have to run explorer over LS or use an explorer looking theme. LS is not designed to just do what you are asking.

Litestep is designed to replace explorer, not just be a window manipulation utility. If that's all you want to do, there are many handy little applications out there that will do what you want while running explorer as shell. Check out some of the items listed here:

http://shellcity.net/