Suggestions please! Volcanic rock chimney and fireplace surround

[Karen Margrave]

We are doing a remodel on a house in Sunriver, OR.  Most of the homes there were built in the 70's and have an overabundance of wood and volcanic rock everything! The rock is a black and dark gray color, not appealing. At the top of the chimney, it's cracking and needs repaired, but otherwise in good shape. 

Taking it out isn't an option as it would never get approved by the HOA. What does it take to remove all that rock? Has anyone done one of these before? As for the surround, the hearth is concrete and in pretty good shape, but the lava rock looks ugly. It's cemented to the wall and not sure of best way to remove rock .. or do we? @hat materials do you use for the heat resistance to adhere tile to?

We've built new construction for 30 years, this remodeling is new, and much more challenging in some ways. 

[Teri Feeney Styers]

@Karen Margrave can you just box it in (around the rock)? Don't get rid of the fireplace just visually get rid of the rock. Maybe add some built-ins on one or both sides to make it tie in. Then you can have your choice of finishes... Surely the HOA doesn't have a say on what is inside your house? Here is a picture of a fireplace I dealt with a few years ago. The wall was real pine (and only one wall in the room) but the previous owner had ripped out some pieces over the fireplace and painted a mural. I couldn't match the pieces since they were from the 1950s. So I took out a few more to balance it and then sheetrocked that area.