dreaming of a white kitchen

I have been looking at new kitchens: minimalistic, sleek, contemporary design marvels that almost intimidate me with their sophistication. I dream about clean clear kitchens, white glorious cooking heavens, empty shiny counter tops by the meter. I wake in a cold sweat. Should it be the glossy white or the soft birch?  My other half reminds me that we cannot order any kitchen (no matter the colour) until the builders have actually built the kitchen and the cement has set. How long can I wait?