My first thought was to cover up the niche, not only because you said you couldn’t reach spices there, but because spices really shouldn’t be stored near heat anyway. One idea that would look good with the logs is a sheet of tin. This brand, available online, has pieces that come in many finishes, designs, and styles. I thought this plain one complimented your walls but would be easy to wipe down and clean, hanging behind the pots.

Thank you! I was thinking of covering too. Had not thought of this.

I imagine that wall hung cabinet in the corner is also pretty inconvenient for you to reach. In the log home I manage as a vacation rental, we didn't bother with uppers. The lowers are all pullout shelves or lazy Susan's in the corners. True, that area is not good for wine or spice storage as both must be kept from heat. What's on the back side of that niche? Looks like you could use a vent hood for the stove if that is an exterior wall. It would probably be difficult for you to use a microwave there with vent, but that's another option. If you ever gut the kitchen, consider all drawers in lower cabinets for most accessible storage.

You’re right, about all. That is the only upper and I can’t reach the top shelf, bottom and middle are usable. The other side of the wall is a room added on to the original 1942 log home. A vent hood would be great but I’d probably have to get a contractor to look at it. I would rather have a microwave there vice on the counter (current configuration).

First pic is wall directly behind and there is a loft directly above. Second pic is refrigerator and microwave (might be hard to see).

We did consider putting a shelf for the microwave just to elevate and free up counter space. It looks by bitches in Wood that previous owners did the same when they remodeled.

Oops, autocorrect- in us is not mean “bitches” but instead “notches.” Very sorry for the typo.

I'd move those upper cabinets to the other side of the window, where they would be easier to reach, then use a vented hood, 6" wider than the range. Can you vent a hood through the ceiling?