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): February 23, 2001
(February 23, 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  February  23,  2001 the  Company  announced  that it expects  first
quarter 2001 sales to be down in the high single  digits from first quarter last
year, and first quarter earnings per share from operations to be in the $0.40 to
$0.45 range, compared to $0.61 last year.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated February 23, 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/ David P. Howard
                                         Vice President, Treasurer and
                                            Chief Financial Officer

Dated:   February 23, 2001
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2312}]
{"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": "1553328"}, "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): February 23, 2001
(February 23, 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  February  23,  2001 the  Company  announced  that it expects  first
quarter 2001 sales to be down in the high single  digits from first quarter last
year, and first quarter earnings per share from operations to be in the $0.40 to
$0.45 range, compared to $0.61 last year.

Item 7.           Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated February 23, 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/ David P. Howard
                                         Vice President, Treasurer and
                                            Chief Financial Officer

Dated:   February 23, 2001