I currently have brick fireplace (very ugly) and I would like to re-face it with stone veneer (either cultered stone or real stone veneer). My question is:
What is the best (proper) method of doing this?
Can I keep th eexisting brick up and just put a scratch coat of mortar and then put up the stone? If so is one coat or mortar good to keep it from coming off? Should it be a mixture of concrete and mortar? What makes the strongest bond when going directly over brick and applying stone veneer?
Or
Should the brick first be removed? If I should remove the brick how do I build up the new frame? Can I use wood 2x4s and then plywood, wire lath, mortar and stone?

I really need to save the ** and would like to do this myself so any advise would greatly be appreciated.

If the brick is sound. First apply a bonding agent, one mortar coat smooth, one mortar coat scratched. If you have a tall wall it would be advisable to secure dowels into the brick to act as support ledges to bear the weight of the real stone. Every three feet in height spaced evenly should do it.