SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934



               Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                      December 6, 2001 (December 5, 2001)

                      Furniture Brands International, Inc.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)


    Delaware                          I-91                   43-0337683
-----------------------          -------------------    ----------------------
(State of Incorporation)           (Commission               (IRS Employer
                                    File Number)         Identification Number)




                101 South Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63105
                ------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)




                                 (314) 863-1100
                                 --------------
                         (Registrant's telephone number)


<PAGE>


Item  5. Other Matters

     On December  5, 2001,  the Company  announced  the signing of a  definitive
agreement with LifeStyle Furnishings  International Ltd. for the purchase by the
Company of  substantially  all of the assets of Henredon  Furniture  Industries,
Inc., Drexel Heritage Furnishings, Inc., Maitland-Smith, Inc. and Maitland-Smith
Pacific, Ltd. for $275 million in cash and common stock of the Company.

     The Company also  reaffirmed its earlier  projection for earnings per share
in the fourth  quarter in the $0.34 to $0.39  range,  and $1.30 to $1.35 for the
full year 2001, excluding all restructuring charges. The Company also reiterated
its belief that sales in the first half of 2002 will be flat to  modestly  down,
with a recovery beginning mid-year and accelerating through the second half.


Item  7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated December 5, 2001



<PAGE>


                                    SIGNATURE


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.




                                       Furniture Brands International, Inc.


                                  By:  /s/  Steven W. Alstadt
                                       Steven W. Alstadt
                                       Controller and Chief Accounting Officer





Dated:  December 6, 2001
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{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC", "cik": "0000050957", "assigned-sic": "2510", "irs-number": "430337683", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-00091", "film-number": "1808769"}, "business-address": {"street1": "101 S HANLEY RD STE 1900", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63105", "phone": "3148631100"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "101 SOUTH HANLEY RD", "city": "ST LOUIS", "state": "MO", "zip": "63105"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "INTERNATIONAL SHOE CO", "date-changed": "19690313"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                         Securities Exchange Act of 1934

               Date of Report (date of earliest event reported):
                      December 6, 2001 (December 5, 2001)

                      Furniture Brands International, Inc.
               (Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

    Delaware                          I-91                   43-0337683
-----------------------          -------------------    ----------------------
(State of Incorporation)           (Commission               (IRS Employer
                                    File Number)         Identification Number)

                101 South Hanley Road, St. Louis, Missouri 63105
                ------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (314) 863-1100
                                 --------------
                         (Registrant's telephone number)
Item  5. Other Matters

     On December  5, 2001,  the Company  announced  the signing of a  definitive
agreement with LifeStyle Furnishings  International Ltd. for the purchase by the
Company of  substantially  all of the assets of Henredon  Furniture  Industries,
Inc., Drexel Heritage Furnishings, Inc., Maitland-Smith, Inc. and Maitland-Smith
Pacific, Ltd. for $275 million in cash and common stock of the Company.

     The Company also  reaffirmed its earlier  projection for earnings per share
in the fourth  quarter in the $0.34 to $0.39  range,  and $1.30 to $1.35 for the
full year 2001, excluding all restructuring charges. The Company also reiterated
its belief that sales in the first half of 2002 will be flat to  modestly  down,
with a recovery beginning mid-year and accelerating through the second half.

Item  7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated December 5, 2001
SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                       Furniture Brands International, Inc.

                                  By:  /s/  Steven W. Alstadt
                                       Steven W. Alstadt
                                       Controller and Chief Accounting Officer

Dated:  December 6, 2001