London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2025

This South Carolina Company Offers Tiny Cottages With Off-Grid Capabilities

This South Carolina Company Offers Tiny Cottages With Off-Grid Capabilities

Eclipse founder Justin Draplin explains his scheme for the 399-square-foot dwellings that include sustainable features such as solar power, in addition to spacious and flexible interiors.

Justin Draplin, founder and CEO of Eclipse, a tiny home and cottage construction company in Greenville, South Carolina, often feels stressed out, and he thinks too many other people experience the same thing. "My goal is to change that," Draplin says. "I want to help people live more fulfilling lives."



The 399-square-foot Eclipse Cottages are clad in white-painted steel siding.

For Draplin, owning and living in a big house-a commodity that has long been associated with success and the American dream-doesn’t necessarily lead to a sense of fulfillment. In fact, he thinks the opposite more likely to be true. "With a large home, there’s a mortgage and constant maintenance," says Draplin. Having a compact, manageable residence allows for more free time and money to spend on things like "connection to the natural environment," Draplin states, continuing: "This is what relieves stress."



A double-height ceiling creates an open and airy aesthetic for the cottage interior.

Having grown up with a father who worked as a builder, Draplin developed an interest in construction, sustainability, and compact homes at an early age. This combination of curiosities eventually led Draplin to create Eclipse, which manufactures tiny homes and cottages with sustainable features. "The first Eclipse model was completed [at the start of] September 2021," Draplin says. "There are currently five homes in production and purchase agreements for over 40 more."



White-painted wooden cabinetry is topped with laminate counters in the kitchen, where an island with built-in storage offers a flexible dining area.

The 399-square-foot Eclipse Cottages are as charming as they are efficient. "Our tiny homes feel far from tiny," Draplin says. "We utilized every corner of space in terms of the design."



Vinyl plank flooring helps to maintain an affordable price for the cottages, which start at $100,000. Pine beams lend texture and warmth and offset the steel materiality of the ceiling.

"I chose steel for the cladding because it’s recyclable and durable in all conditions," Draplin says of the siding and framing. "All of the amenities and features we’ve included appeal to people who may have been previously opposed to tiny living."



The bedroom is arranged with a large dresser, a queen-size bed, and a pair of nightstands.

Inside, sunlight bounces around the open-plan spaces, where a double-height ceiling creates an airy feel. Homeowners can select a plan with a loft area that can be used as a second bedroom or as an additional storage space; there’s also an option for a half bathroom on the second story. Smart LED lighting, an optional kitchen island, a large porch, and a sizable deck offer added luxury for the compact cottages.



In the bathroom, the toilet offers a two-flush option that reduces water waste, while the off-grid package includes an incinerating toilet.



The composite wall system in the shower imitates stone tile and offers durability.

In addition to comfort, the designs also offer plenty of sustainable features and off-grid capabilities, including incinerating toilets and solar power. "There are 5.8 kilowatt solar panels available in every home," Draplin says. "The cottages also have a 35 R-value with a full thermal break and a vapor barrier to create an airtight shell, giving homeowners greater insulation quality. Our rainwater catchment and graywater renewal system options allow people to not have to rely on other water sources."



A loft area at one end of the cottage can be arranged as a bedroom or used for extra storage.



An optional half bathroom can be added on the second story.

In addition to developing Eclipse Cottages-which start from $100,000 and can be shipped anywhere in the United States-Draplin is hard at work creating Eclipse Villages, or tight-knit neighborhoods that feature a collection of Eclipse Cottages. "There are several [in-progress] communities in South Carolina, but developers are actively looking for partners in other states," he says. "The established communities have anywhere from 140 to 600 homes, and our partners are working on smaller communities that include anywhere from 14 to 18 [tiny cottages]."



A wraparound porch provides a place to view the natural landscape, connecting the cottage to the outdoors.



A wooden terrace with chairs and an accent table provides a place to enjoy nature. "It feels like the outdoors are part of the home," Draplin says.

The currently underway Eclipse Villages are being designed to preserve the natural features of their sites, maintaining as many trees as possible. "We’re working with the land as it is and letting it direct us as to what the community should be like, instead of the other way around," Draplin says. "One community will have a farm-to-table restaurant and a brewery on-site, and others will have full-working farms, mountain views, or lakes."



Black-painted window and door frames contrast with the white-painted steel siding and offer a crisp, clean aesthetic for the exterior.

It’s important to Draplin that each of the Eclipse Villages offers an old-time neighborhood experience. "You know how when you were a kid and your neighbors knew who you were and always looked out for you? That’s what I want for our communities," Draplin says. "I think it’s what makes for a happier life, and maybe it can help change the world."

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
Google Secures Windsurf AI Coding Team in $2.4 Billion Licence Deal
Jamie Dimon Warns Europe Is Losing Global Competitiveness and Flags Market Complacency
South African Police Minister Suspended Amid Organised Crime Allegations
Nvidia CEO Claims Chinese Military Reluctance to Use US AI Technology
Hong Kong Advances Digital Asset Strategy to Address Economic Challenges
Australia Rules Out Pre‑commitment of Troops, Reinforces Defence Posture Amid US‑China Tensions
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Excavation Begins at Site of Mass Grave for Children at Former Irish Institution
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
EU Delays Retaliatory Tariffs Amid New U.S. Threats on Imports
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
×