Fireplaces, Heating Stoves, Flues and Chimneys - "Remodeling" a fireplace

My parent’s house has an old brick and mortar fireplace. The interior brick face extends from floor to ceiling and they’d like to cover the brick about half way up with tongue and groove paneling (to match surrounding living room walls), then cover the remaining exposed brick with stone. If I understand correctly, the lumber cannot be in direct contact with the chimney, so we’re considering attaching cement board directly to the brick, then attaching the panels/lumber to the cement board? Is that possible? What about finishes and paint? What can you tell me?

Thanks,
-Omar

How do you plan on attaching lumber to cement board? Wood around fireplace opening is not a good idea.

twelvepole,

I was planning on attaching (screwing) three horizontal furring strips (one at the top, one in the middle, and one at the bottom) to the cement board, then running the T & G panels vertically, perpendicular and attached to, the strips.

I know it's not a good idea to have combustible materials near the fireplace, but my parents live in SoCal and have central heating, so there's little need to use the fireplace. As a matter of fact, the don't use it at all. I can't remember the last time it's actually held a fire. I'm sure they don't either!