April 27, 2001





Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, DC  20549



                                   RE:      Form 8-K
                                            Furniture Brands International, Inc.




Dear Sir or Madam:


     Submitted herewith for filing is the above-referenced report with exhibit.

     This filing is being affected by direct  transmission  to the  Commission's
EDGAR system.

                                        Very truly yours,


                                        /s/  Robert L. Kaintz
                                        Assistant General Counsel




RLK/rsl
Enclosure



                       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):
               April 26, 2001 (April 26, 2001)


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


        Delaware                     I-91                   43-033768
        --------                     ----                   ---------
(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 April 26, 2001 the  Company  announced  operating  results for the first
quarter of 2001. Net sales for the first quarter were $506.2 million,  off 10.2%
from a record first  quarter in 2000.  Net  earnings for the first  quarter were
$19.7  million,  a decrease of 35.7% from the same quarter last year,  which was
also a record  quarter.  Diluted  net  earnings  per common  share for the first
quarter  were  $0.39,  a  decrease  of  36.1%.  Excluding  noncash  charges  for
depreciation and amortization  related to a 1992 asset revaluation,  the Company
would have  reported  diluted  net  earnings  per common  share of $0.44 for the
quarter.

     The Company also  announced  that its current  projection  for earnings per
share in the  second  quarter is 35 to 40 cents and for the full year 2001 is in
the $1.85 to $1.95 range.

Item  7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated April 26, 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:   April 26, 2001





INFORMATION
 101 South Hanley Road
 St. Louis, Missouri  63105
 314-863-1100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
---------------------


                FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS SALES AND
                     EARNINGS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2001;

                 COMPANY ANNOUNCES $47 MILLION IN DEBT REDUCTION


St. Louis, Missouri, April 26, 2001 -- Furniture Brands International (NYSE:FBN)
announced today operating results for the first quarter of 2001.

Net sales for the first  quarter  were $506.2  million,  off 10.2% from a record
first quarter in 2000. Net earnings for the first quarter were $19.7 million,  a
decrease  of 35.7%  from the same  quarter  last  year,  which was also a record
quarter. Diluted net earnings per common share for the first quarter were $0.39,
a decrease of 36.1%.

Excluding  noncash charges for depreciation  and amortization  related to a 1992
asset  revaluation,  the company  would have  reported  diluted net earnings per
common share of $0.44 for the quarter.

"The first quarter of 2001 was a very  difficult one for our company and for our
industry,"  stated  W. G.  (Mickey)  Holliman,  Chairman,  President  and  Chief
Executive Officer. "Like many other segments of the domestic economy, we saw the
continuation of the  significant  slowdown which began during the second half of
2000.  We are also  experiencing  some  carry-over  effect  from major  retailer
bankruptcy filings in the second half of 2000, and we have sacrificed additional
volume as we have backed away from other  business due to credit  concerns.  Our
operating margins were negatively  impacted by decreased plant utilization - off
by some  16-17%  --  resulting  both  from  the  volume  shortfall  and from our
increased focus on imported products.  As evidenced by our previously  announced
capacity  reductions and layoffs,  we are taking  meaningful steps to return our
margins to more normal  levels.  Should  business  improve,  we anticipate  even
greater margin improvement going forward."

"Our  strong  cash flow in the first  quarter  enabled the company to reduce its
debt by $47 million,  resulting in long-term  debt of $415 million at the end of
the  quarter.  We have  now  achieved  our  long-stated  goal  of a 40%  debt to
capitalization  ratio.  Going  forward  we will have  added  flexibility  in the
application of our substantial cash flow."

Mr. Holliman continued, "We continue to see weakness in consumer spending in our
sector.  We now believe the  current  soft  economic  conditions  will  continue
through the second quarter of 2001, and in all probability  into the second half
of the  year.  We  expect a  recovery  toward  the end of the year but we do not
believe  it will be soon  enough or  strong  enough  to  offset  the first  half
weakness. Our current projection for earnings per share in the second quarter is
35 to 40 cents.  For the full year 2001 our  projection is in the $1.85 to $1.95
range."

Mr. Holliman  concluded,  "The residential  furniture industry is in a period of
significant transition,  and the soft economy has accelerated that process. Over
the past  several  years we have  positioned  our  company  to meet the  current
challenges,  and we  believe  we are in a position  to take  advantage  of these
industry changes and to grow market share on a profitable basis going forward."

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe
harbor"  provisions  of the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.
These forward looking statements include the company's expected sales,  earnings
per share,  profit  margins,  and cash flow for the second quarter and full year
2001,  the  effects of certain  manufacturing  realignments  and other  business
strategies,  the  prospects  for the  overall  business  environment,  and other
statements   containing  the  words   "expects,"   "anticipates,"   "estimates,"
"believes," and words of similar import. The company cautions investors that any
such  forward-looking  statements are not guarantees of future  performance  and
that certain factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking  statements.  Such factors may include: overall business and
economic  conditions and growth in the furniture  industry;  changes in customer
spending patterns and demand for home furnishings;  competitive factors, such as
design  and  marketing  efforts  by  other  furniture   manufacturers;   pricing
pressures;  success of the marketing  efforts of retailers and the prospects for
further  customer  failures;  the  company's  success  in  furniture  design and
manufacture;   the  effects  of  manufacturing  realignments  and  cost  savings
programs;  and other  risk  factors  listed  from time to time in the  company's
public releases and SEC reports.

A conference call will be held to discuss the first quarter results at 2:00 P.M.
(Central   Time)  on  April   26,   2001.   The   call   can  be   accessed   at
www.streetfusion.com,  at  www.streetevents.com,  or on the company's website at
www.furniturebrands.com.


<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                          FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL

                                          CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
                                      (Dollars in thousands except per share)
                                                    (Unaudited)


                                                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                                                                March 31,
                                                                                        2001                2000
                                                                                   ---------------     ----------------

<S>                                                                                      <C>                 <C>
Net sales..............................................................                  $ 506,182           $ 563,947
Costs and expenses:
  Cost of operations...................................................                    370,416             404,719
  Selling, general and administrative expenses.........................                     84,411              86,963
                                                                                                                15,549
  Depreciation and amortization (A)....................................                     15,258
                                                                                   ----------------    ----------------
Earnings from operations...............................................                     36,097              56,716

Interest expense.......................................................                      6,769               9,609
Other income, net......................................................                        809                 735
                                                                                   ----------------    ----------------
Earnings before income tax expense....................................                     30,137              47,842
Income tax expense.....................................................                     10,456              17,242
                                                                                   ----------------    ----------------
Net earnings...........................................................                    $19,681             $30,600
                                                                                   ================    ================

Net earnings per common share (diluted):
  As reported..........................................................                      $0.39               $0.61
                                                                                   ================    ================

  As adjusted (B)......................................................                      $0.44               $0.66
                                                                                   ================    ================


Average diluted common shares
outstanding (in thousands).............................................                     51,083              50,351
                                                                                   ================    ================






(A)  Includes  $3,258 and $3,458 for the three  months  ended March 31, 2001 and
     2000, respectively, related to the 1992 asset revaluation.

(B)  Adjusted to remove the depreciation  and  amortization  related to the 1992
     asset revaluation, net of taxes.

</TABLE>


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                         FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
                      CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)





                                                                                             March 31,            December 31,
                                                                                                 2001                    2000
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
Assets

Current assets:
<S>                                                                                      <C>                      <C>
  Cash and cash equivalents............................................                  $       8,038            $     14,606
  Receivables, net.....................................................                        349,675                 351,804
  Inventories..........................................................                        296,621                 294,454
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets............................                         32,927                  30,717
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
    Total current assets...............................................                        687,261                 691,581
Net property, plant and equipment......................................                        296,362                 303,235
Intangible assets......................................................                        286,507                 289,895
Other assets...........................................................                         21,579                  20,127
                                                                                     -----------------     -------------------
                                                                                          $  1,291,709            $  1,304,838
                                                                                     ==================    ====================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
  Accrued interest expense.............................................                  $       1,760           $       7,646
  Accounts payable and other accrued expenses..........................                        149,098                 135,472
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
    Total current liabilities..........................................                        150,858                 143,118
Long-term debt.........................................................                        415,000                 462,000
Other long-term liabilities ...........................................                        115,377                 115,815

Shareholders' equity...................................................                        610,474                 583,905
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
                                                                                            $1,291,709              $1,304,838
                                                                                     ==================    ====================

</TABLE>
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "asci8k_4.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K (04/26/01)", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15966}]
{"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": "1614240"}, "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"}}
April 27, 2001

Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Judiciary Plaza
Washington, DC  20549

                                   RE:      Form 8-K
                                            Furniture Brands International, Inc.

Dear Sir or Madam:

     Submitted herewith for filing is the above-referenced report with exhibit.

     This filing is being affected by direct  transmission  to the  Commission's
EDGAR system.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/  Robert L. Kaintz
                                        Assistant General Counsel

RLK/rsl
Enclosure

                       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):
               April 26, 2001 (April 26, 2001)

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

        Delaware                     I-91                   43-033768
        --------                     ----                   ---------
(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 April 26, 2001 the  Company  announced  operating  results for the first
quarter of 2001. Net sales for the first quarter were $506.2 million,  off 10.2%
from a record first  quarter in 2000.  Net  earnings for the first  quarter were
$19.7  million,  a decrease of 35.7% from the same quarter last year,  which was
also a record  quarter.  Diluted  net  earnings  per common  share for the first
quarter  were  $0.39,  a  decrease  of  36.1%.  Excluding  noncash  charges  for
depreciation and amortization  related to a 1992 asset revaluation,  the Company
would have  reported  diluted  net  earnings  per common  share of $0.44 for the
quarter.

     The Company also  announced  that its current  projection  for earnings per
share in the  second  quarter is 35 to 40 cents and for the full year 2001 is in
the $1.85 to $1.95 range.

Item  7. Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated April 26, 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:   April 26, 2001

INFORMATION
 101 South Hanley Road
 St. Louis, Missouri  63105
 314-863-1100

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
---------------------

                FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL REPORTS SALES AND
                     EARNINGS FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 2001;

                 COMPANY ANNOUNCES $47 MILLION IN DEBT REDUCTION

St. Louis, Missouri, April 26, 2001 -- Furniture Brands International (NYSE:FBN)
announced today operating results for the first quarter of 2001.

Net sales for the first  quarter  were $506.2  million,  off 10.2% from a record
first quarter in 2000. Net earnings for the first quarter were $19.7 million,  a
decrease  of 35.7%  from the same  quarter  last  year,  which was also a record
quarter. Diluted net earnings per common share for the first quarter were $0.39,
a decrease of 36.1%.

Excluding  noncash charges for depreciation  and amortization  related to a 1992
asset  revaluation,  the company  would have  reported  diluted net earnings per
common share of $0.44 for the quarter.

"The first quarter of 2001 was a very  difficult one for our company and for our
industry,"  stated  W. G.  (Mickey)  Holliman,  Chairman,  President  and  Chief
Executive Officer. "Like many other segments of the domestic economy, we saw the
continuation of the  significant  slowdown which began during the second half of
2000.  We are also  experiencing  some  carry-over  effect  from major  retailer
bankruptcy filings in the second half of 2000, and we have sacrificed additional
volume as we have backed away from other  business due to credit  concerns.  Our
operating margins were negatively  impacted by decreased plant utilization - off
by some  16-17%  --  resulting  both  from  the  volume  shortfall  and from our
increased focus on imported products.  As evidenced by our previously  announced
capacity  reductions and layoffs,  we are taking  meaningful steps to return our
margins to more normal  levels.  Should  business  improve,  we anticipate  even
greater margin improvement going forward."

"Our  strong  cash flow in the first  quarter  enabled the company to reduce its
debt by $47 million,  resulting in long-term  debt of $415 million at the end of
the  quarter.  We have  now  achieved  our  long-stated  goal  of a 40%  debt to
capitalization  ratio.  Going  forward  we will have  added  flexibility  in the
application of our substantial cash flow."

Mr. Holliman continued, "We continue to see weakness in consumer spending in our
sector.  We now believe the  current  soft  economic  conditions  will  continue
through the second quarter of 2001, and in all probability  into the second half
of the  year.  We  expect a  recovery  toward  the end of the year but we do not
believe  it will be soon  enough or  strong  enough  to  offset  the first  half
weakness. Our current projection for earnings per share in the second quarter is
35 to 40 cents.  For the full year 2001 our  projection is in the $1.85 to $1.95
range."

Mr. Holliman  concluded,  "The residential  furniture industry is in a period of
significant transition,  and the soft economy has accelerated that process. Over
the past  several  years we have  positioned  our  company  to meet the  current
challenges,  and we  believe  we are in a position  to take  advantage  of these
industry changes and to grow market share on a profitable basis going forward."

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe
harbor"  provisions  of the Private  Securities  Litigation  Reform Act of 1995.
These forward looking statements include the company's expected sales,  earnings
per share,  profit  margins,  and cash flow for the second quarter and full year
2001,  the  effects of certain  manufacturing  realignments  and other  business
strategies,  the  prospects  for the  overall  business  environment,  and other
statements   containing  the  words   "expects,"   "anticipates,"   "estimates,"
"believes," and words of similar import. The company cautions investors that any
such  forward-looking  statements are not guarantees of future  performance  and
that certain factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those in
the forward-looking  statements.  Such factors may include: overall business and
economic  conditions and growth in the furniture  industry;  changes in customer
spending patterns and demand for home furnishings;  competitive factors, such as
design  and  marketing  efforts  by  other  furniture   manufacturers;   pricing
pressures;  success of the marketing  efforts of retailers and the prospects for
further  customer  failures;  the  company's  success  in  furniture  design and
manufacture;   the  effects  of  manufacturing  realignments  and  cost  savings
programs;  and other  risk  factors  listed  from time to time in the  company's
public releases and SEC reports.

A conference call will be held to discuss the first quarter results at 2:00 P.M.
(Central   Time)  on  April   26,   2001.   The   call   can  be   accessed   at
www.streetfusion.com,  at  www.streetevents.com,  or on the company's website at
www.furniturebrands.com.
FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL

                                          CONSOLIDATED OPERATING RESULTS
                                      (Dollars in thousands except per share)
                                                    (Unaudited)

                                                                                           Three Months Ended
                                                                                                March 31,
                                                                                        2001                2000
                                                                                   ---------------     ----------------
Net sales..............................................................                  $ 506,182           $ 563,947
Costs and expenses:
  Cost of operations...................................................                    370,416             404,719
  Selling, general and administrative expenses.........................                     84,411              86,963
                                                                                                                15,549
  Depreciation and amortization (A)....................................                     15,258
                                                                                   ----------------    ----------------
Earnings from operations...............................................                     36,097              56,716

Interest expense.......................................................                      6,769               9,609
Other income, net......................................................                        809                 735
                                                                                   ----------------    ----------------
Earnings before income tax expense....................................                     30,137              47,842
Income tax expense.....................................................                     10,456              17,242
                                                                                   ----------------    ----------------
Net earnings...........................................................                    $19,681             $30,600
                                                                                   ================    ================

Net earnings per common share (diluted):
  As reported..........................................................                      $0.39               $0.61
                                                                                   ================    ================

  As adjusted (B)......................................................                      $0.44               $0.66
                                                                                   ================    ================

Average diluted common shares
outstanding (in thousands).............................................                     51,083              50,351
                                                                                   ================    ================

(A)  Includes  $3,258 and $3,458 for the three  months  ended March 31, 2001 and
     2000, respectively, related to the 1992 asset revaluation.

(B)  Adjusted to remove the depreciation  and  amortization  related to the 1992
     asset revaluation, net of taxes.
FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL
                      CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in thousands)
                                  (Unaudited)

                                                                                             March 31,            December 31,
                                                                                                 2001                    2000
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
Assets

Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents............................................                  $       8,038            $     14,606
  Receivables, net.....................................................                        349,675                 351,804
  Inventories..........................................................                        296,621                 294,454
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets............................                         32,927                  30,717
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
    Total current assets...............................................                        687,261                 691,581
Net property, plant and equipment......................................                        296,362                 303,235
Intangible assets......................................................                        286,507                 289,895
Other assets...........................................................                         21,579                  20,127
                                                                                     -----------------     -------------------
                                                                                          $  1,291,709            $  1,304,838
                                                                                     ==================    ====================

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity

Current liabilities:
  Accrued interest expense.............................................                  $       1,760           $       7,646
  Accounts payable and other accrued expenses..........................                        149,098                 135,472
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
    Total current liabilities..........................................                        150,858                 143,118
Long-term debt.........................................................                        415,000                 462,000
Other long-term liabilities ...........................................                        115,377                 115,815

Shareholders' equity...................................................                        610,474                 583,905
                                                                                     ------------------    --------------------
                                                                                            $1,291,709              $1,304,838
                                                                                     ==================    ====================