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 15, 2000 (December 15, 2000)


                      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  December  15,  2000 the Company  announced  that it expects  fourth
quarter sales to be marginally lower than last year, and fourth quarter earnings
per share from  operations to be in the $0.45 to $0.48 range,  compared to $0.58
last year, resulting in full year earnings per share from operations of $2.12 to
$2.15, versus last year's $2.14.

         The full year 2000  earnings  per share  estimate  does not include two
fourth  quarter  non-recurring  items which will  largely  offset each other:  a
non-recurring  loss  from  an  increase  in  bad  debt  expense  related  to the
Heilig-Meyers  reorganization,  and a  non-recurring  gain from a dividend to be
received from a minority  investment in a company which leases  exhibition space
to furniture and accessory manufacturers in High Point, North Carolina. The 2000
earnings per share  estimate also excludes a second quarter  extraordinary  item
(an expense) of $0.05 related to the early extinguishment of debt.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated December 15, 2000


<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
                                         ----------------------------------
                                             David P. Howard
                                             Vice President, Treasurer and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

Dated:   December 15, 2000
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "filename": "0001.txt", "description": "FORM 8-K", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3260}]
{"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": "790110"}, "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 15, 2000 (December 15, 2000)

                      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  December  15,  2000 the Company  announced  that it expects  fourth
quarter sales to be marginally lower than last year, and fourth quarter earnings
per share from  operations to be in the $0.45 to $0.48 range,  compared to $0.58
last year, resulting in full year earnings per share from operations of $2.12 to
$2.15, versus last year's $2.14.

         The full year 2000  earnings  per share  estimate  does not include two
fourth  quarter  non-recurring  items which will  largely  offset each other:  a
non-recurring  loss  from  an  increase  in  bad  debt  expense  related  to the
Heilig-Meyers  reorganization,  and a  non-recurring  gain from a dividend to be
received from a minority  investment in a company which leases  exhibition space
to furniture and accessory manufacturers in High Point, North Carolina. The 2000
earnings per share  estimate also excludes a second quarter  extraordinary  item
(an expense) of $0.05 related to the early extinguishment of debt.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits

         (c)      Exhibits

                  99       Press Release, dated December 15, 2000
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
                                         ----------------------------------
                                             David P. Howard
                                             Vice President, Treasurer and
                                               Chief Financial Officer

Dated:   December 15, 2000