I'd like a plant to cover some ugly pipes around my kitchen wall. Any suggestions?

Put a frame (trellis) on the pipes and grow an evergreen Clematis on it, check the type for hardiness.

Given the choice between ivy and virginia creeper, I'd choose the ivy every time, despite the fact it can root into the brickwork; its easier to control, though extreme vigilance is required! If you want to grow an evergreen clematis instead, I'd recommend putting clematis netting round the pipe and on the wall, this way it'll cling to it all by itself. Not sure how well Clematis will do if the wall is in shade most of the time though. If it is very shady, you could try Hydrangea anomala (H. petiolaris is what it used to be called) which is a climbing form of hydrangea, though it is deciduous.