How do I finish furniture in the antique primitive style?

My husband, a wonderful carpenter, is going to build an entertainment center to completely enclose all his modern looking electronics since they don't match my country primitive living room! I need suggestions on where to find information on how to finish it in the primitive style - well used and instantly old! I think I want to do a two tone finish - a dark red under black, but am unsure whether to crackle finish it or distress the edges, etc. Any suggestions?