The more I think about design and website design, just design in general, I don’t think there should ever be more than a single column. Even though it may be less optimal, philosophically and aesthetically it is more beautiful and supreme.
Also, a big thing I learned from this one guy I learned from you are you ask, the optimal website should not require you to click menu in order to see the menu. The menu should just always be visible.
One of the outsides of the new WordPress full site editor is that you could do this.
Even at least with the apple.com website, at least on the iPad, you can see all the menu items on top:
However, a critical flaw to the new apple.com website homepage, that really ugly two column design on the bottom:
NB (notta benne, note well)— the menu should always be fully visible.
Also with images, maybe the best strategy is to always just have a full width, single column.