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

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."

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."

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."