diff --git a/.spacemacs b/.spacemacs
index b6455e9..7fd4873 100644
--- a/.spacemacs
+++ b/.spacemacs
@@ -629,7 +629,9 @@ before packages are loaded."
   ;; email config
   ;; the saved command is a work-around for not working address completion
   (setq notmuch-show-logo nil
-        notmuch-search-oldest-first nil
+        notmuch-search-oldest-first nil          ;; new email on top
+        notmuch-column-control 1.0               ;; just one columnt for searches
+        notmuch-hello-insert-recent-searches nil ;; don't display recent searches in notmuch-helo
         notmuch-address-command "/Users/jetpac/bin/notmuch-address"
 
         ;; these are default