Pali High Grad Designs Custom Home Vaults

By DAILA HARINCK | Intern

After graduating from Palisades Charter High School, Todd Lawrence set off to see the world, visiting 22 countries before eventually settling in Taiwan, where he has lived for over three decades.

He learned of the fire raging in Pacific Palisades in January through anxious phone calls with his parents. They eventually learned that their family home remained standing, though they were displaced with it requiring “extensive remediation.”

When Lawrence flew back and saw the damage firsthand, something stood out to him: Amid the rubble and destruction, their Chase bank vault had stayed intact.

“Bank vaults are made with modular panels, protecting them in fires and disasters,” Lawrence explained. It was this realization that ultimately launched the idea for his latest endeavor, Custom Home Vaults.

According to the company’s website, Lawrence set out to “utilize modular paneling to convert standard shipping containers into fully secure, concealed bank vaults for residential use.” These bank-grade, walk-in vaults are designed to store everything—from jewelry and family heirlooms to sports memorabilia—discreetly and seamlessly within the home’s architecture.

Unlike his previous business venture, Whisky Vault—which was primarily with collectors in mind—Custom Home Vaults is aimed at everyday families looking to protect items.

“Pacific Palisades will rebuild,” Lawrence said. “And this time, security will be  built into the home to withstand the unimaginable. This isn’t just a product. It’s personal.”

The vaults use the same panelized steel and insulation found in commercial-grade safes, but with an emphasis on customization and design. A vault can be fully customized—from its size and color to the type of wood. Lawrence works with interior designers to ensure it blends into a home’s existing floor plan and aesthetic.

Beyond design, the vaults are crafted to offer long-term protection, created with “integrated fire resistance.” A Custom Home Vault is built to withstand 1,000-degree fires for extended periods of time, Lawrence said.

Additionally, the high-density composite concrete panels and one-and-a-half-ton, bank-grade vault door further reinforce.

Security and privacy are the brand’s core values, which is why the delivery and installation process is private.

“Even the neighborhood won’t know you just dropped a 20-ton, UL-certified vault into your floor plan,” Lawrence said.

The vaults are built entirely offsite and brought to the customer’s home in a shipping container, meaning the size and layout is kept entirely discreet.

Lawrence said he understands that home security is not just about safeguarding items—it is about ensuring peace of mind for customers in an uncertain world.

The memory of seeing the Palisades, his hometown, in ashes drives his mission forward. That is also why he has made sure that part of all sales will be donated to one of four charities that focus on “rebuilding after the devastating wildfires,” including California Community Foundation, American Red Cross, Direct Relief and Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation.

For more information, visit customhomevaults.com.