I think that they can be very good to let in natural light and give off a view, so if you have something nice to look at like greenery; then absolutely. If you'd be looking concrete or a busy street, then no. If you need something nice and bright you could put a patterned wallpaper or mural behind glass, maybe even with LED strip lighting.

Thank you everyone, your thoughtful advice was very welcome. I'm attaching a photo as its all finished. I selected Olive Reserve for the splash back and painted the wall above it the same colour. As its a big room with lots of light and a large window it doesn't dominate. The glass is so easy to keep clean and I love the way it reflects the garden and light. Have to say though some people are stunned into silence when they see it, but as the cupboards and bench tops are quite bland I knew something bright was needed

Hi Sue, I think it would look amazing if you used some tiles with a bit of texture. The wood look tiles that are popular at the moment would be an example. If you chose a colour that toned in with your floor you would get a really nice cohesive look but with a bit of interest. I've attached a photo of a recent design of mine as an example. Just a suggestion!

Hi Nathan, I worry by introducing another colour, it might wreck the overall aesthetics to your kitchen. My initial thought was a white subway tile with dark grey grout so it’s drawing the grey/darker tones from your floor tiles & wall colour - while still lightening things up with the white tiles. You can always use colour with accessories to bring some spunk into your space :)