How about having a single column that won’t affect any item in view. I personally am focus on the item at hand, not looking over to the other one. IF it is a distraction, then a single column would satisfy that irritation. This thread is a fine example. Can you imagine having comments to the right or left here.
Keep up the good work, but I am not sure what could be done, as the height will affect elements to the side and bottom, when having a flexible content-related height.