If you cook, you do not want paper towels or spices over the stove. I purchased the magnetic paper towel holder recommended by another forum user (which they loved as it worked for them). I popped it right up there under the microwave and turned on the stove - the whoosh of hot air lifted the end of the paper towels, they unrolled toward the flames and I was grabbing and smacking and turning the stove off as quickly as possible. We returned the magnetic holder and bought an over the cabinet door one that hangs on our pantry and holds the towels vertically similar to this one
https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/over-the-cabinet-door-vertical-paper-towel-holder/1042096672?skuId=42096672&mcid=PS_googlepla_nonbrand_kitchenaccessories_&product_id=%7Bproduct_id%7D&adpos=1o2&creative=43742642509&device=c&matchtype=&network=g&gclid=COHB-YX64c8CFYxZhgodbNoB7Q I put felt pads on it where it touches wood to prevent marring.
Spices should never be stored near a heat source, it ages them prematurely. Ours are in the cupboard and occasionally sit on the shelves mentioned below if we aren't blasting heat in that zone.
We purchased a kitchen "wall bar" system from Ikea and two hanging wine glass holders/rack/shelf things that hook over the bar. Phoenix installed the bar over the back of our stovetop and the "shelves" ride in the cabinet and get put up as part of our setup. We use them to hold the little jar of ground coffee, sweetener, and miscellaneous small countertop clutter items - we normally remove these prior to firing up those burners. The wine racks aren't shown anymore on the Ikea site but I think it was the Grundtal system shown here
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/ikea_kitchens/series/08006/ - we had to go with the shorter bar. It's possible these systems won't fit with newer models as they widened the kitchen window (jealous) but there may be something out there at kitchen stores that will fit. Someone else on the forum used the Fintorp series and hangs a basket on it for fruit and such
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/ikea_kitchens/series/21592/ We kept the mirror and like it. It is easy to clean and brightens the area. If you hate the idea of glass, Ikea and home stores sell metal backsplashes/panels for your walls. The glass tile is beautiful but heavy and I figure it will be harder to clean than a smooth sheet of glass as you now deal with grout. A metal panel would be about the same to clean as the mirror but might show streaks and spots even more clearly than the mirror (due to reflection of the front of the rig - it confuses the eye... until it gets really bad then you have to clean it).
We also have a small, clear Command hook next to the mirror where we hang a silicone mitt when in camp (rides in the drawer).
