Some of the kitchen nightmares have no running water, not pantry, and double as a laundry as well.

If you thought your kitchen has seen better days, spare a thought for these families: In Ramsay and Erin Beecham's kitchen, the basics barely exist, with the couple not even owning a kitchen sink.

The Beechams use the shower to do their dishes, but with a baby on the way, a kitchen renovation has fast become a high priority for the couple.

• Fast-building flat pack homes
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• Australia's a renovation nation

"We try and wash the dishes every night. Sometimes because it's such a pain to do we just leave it though," Ramsay said.

In another house Karen Molencamp embraces her 'retro kitchen' where the colour green a prominent feature. She also claims her bathroom would win a 'worst bathroom competition', and with a roof concaving in up one end, it's easy to see why.

Monica Leahy's first home is truly a renovator's delight. "Originally there was a mantelpiece and when I moved in it was held together with a bit of tape and bandaids, quite disgusting."

Today Tonight's latest house and home stories

The owners of these kitchens are proudly putting them on display, in the running to win a $20,000 makeover by Malcolm Alexander and his team at Realistic Kitchens in Ballarat.

More stories from reporter Georgia Main

We'd like to find Australia's worst kitchen. If you have a contender, or if you know someone who does, send us a photo via our contact form or via Twitter.

• Realistic Kitchens - www.realistickitchens.com.au
• The Courier, Ballarat - www.thecourier.com.au