May 14, 2001



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



                                    RE:     Form 10-Q
                                            Furniture Brands International, Inc.




Dear Sir or Madam:


         Submitted herewith for filing is the above-referenced report.

     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








                                    FORM 10-Q

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549



(Mark one)

[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
    ACT OF 1934
    For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2001 or
                                   --------------

TRANSITION  REPORT  PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (D) OF THE SECURITIES  EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934 For the transition period from to ------------ ------------

Commission file number I-91
                       ----


                      Furniture Brands International, Inc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Delaware                                         43-0337683
----------------------------------                    -------------------------
  (State or other jurisdiction of                         (I.R.S. Employer
   incorporation or organization)                         Identification No.)

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

Registrant's telephone number, including area code            (314) 863-1100
                                                            ------------------


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report



     Indicate  by check mark  whether the  registrant  (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of
1934  during  the  preceding  12 months  (or for such  shorter  period  that the
registrant was required to file such reports),  and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirement for the past 90 days.

                                                         Yes  X      No
                                                            --------    -------


                      APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS

Indicate the number of shares  outstanding  of each of the  issuer's  classes of
common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

                     50,264,650 Shares as of April 30, 2001
                     --------------------------------------


<PAGE>


                          PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                          ----------------------------


Item 1.  Financial Statements

Consolidated Financial Statements for the quarter ended March 31, 2001.

                  Consolidated Balance Sheets

                  Consolidated Statements of Operations:

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

                  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows:

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

                  Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

The financial statements are unaudited,  but include all adjustments (consisting
of normal recurring  adjustments)  which the management of the Company considers
necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the period.  The results for
the three  months  ended March 31, 2001 are not  necessarily  indicative  of the
results to be expected for the full year.
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                             (Dollars in thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)


                                                       March 31, December 31,
                                                           2001         2000
                                                   ------------  -----------
ASSETS

<S>                                                        <C>         <C>
Current assets:
  Cash and cash equivalents......................  $      8,038  $    14,606
  Receivables, less allowances of $22,459
    ($23,075 at December 31, 2000)...............       349,675      351,804
  Inventories.........................(Note 1)...       296,621      294,454
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets......        32,927       30,717
                                                   ------------  -----------
    Total current assets.........................       687,261      691,581
                                                   ------------  -----------

Property, plant and equipment....................       595,697      590,342
  Less accumulated depreciation..................       299,335      287,107
                                                   ------------  -----------
    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:
  Preferred stock, authorized 10,000,000
    shares, no par value - issued, none..........           -            -
  Common stock, authorized 100,000,000 shares,
    $1.00 stated value - issued 52,277,066
    shares at March 31, 2001 and
    December 31, 2000............................        52,277       52,277
  Paid-in capital................................       114,286      118,360
  Retained earnings..............................       482,154      462,473
  Treasury stock at cost (2,022,141 shares at
    March 31, 2001 and 2,601,759 shares at
    December 31, 2000)...........................       (38,243)     (49,205)
                                                   ------------  -----------
    Total shareholders' equity...................       610,474      583,905
                                                   ------------  -----------
                                                   $  1,291,709  $ 1,304,838
                                                   ============  ===========

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                      FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
                  (Dollars in thousands except per share data)
                                   (Unaudited)




                                                   Three Months  Three Months
                                                          Ended         Ended
                                                       March 31,     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

     Depreciation and amortization................       15,258        15,549
                                                   ------------  ------------

   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:

     Basic........................................       $ 0.39        $ 0.62
                                                         ======        ======

     Diluted......................................       $ 0.39        $ 0.61
                                                         ======        ======

   Weighted average common shares outstanding:

     Basic........................................   50,021,578    49,373,755
                                                     ==========    ==========

     Diluted......................................   51,082,872    50,351,176
                                                     ==========    ==========


   See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                      FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
                             (Dollars in thousands)
                                   (Unaudited)



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

   Cash flows from operating activities:
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>
     Net earnings.........................................    $     19,681    $     30,600
     Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash
       provided by operating activities:
       Depreciation of property, plant and equipment......          12,243          12,534
       Amortization of intangible and other assets........           3,015           3,015
       Noncash interest and other expense.................             353             491
       (Increase) decrease in receivables.................           2,129         (31,919)
       Increase in inventories............................          (2,167)         (6,625)
       Increase in prepaid expenses and other assets......          (4,053)           (580)
       Increase in accounts payable, accrued interest
         expense and other accrued expenses...............          11,738          39,053
       Decrease in net deferred tax liabilities...........          (1,000)         (1,301)
       Increase in other long-term liabilities............           1,231             686
                                                              ------------    ------------
     Net cash provided by operating activities............          43,170          45,954
                                                              ------------    ------------

   Cash flows from investing activities:
     Proceeds from the disposal of assets.................              48              12
     Additions to property, plant and equipment...........          (5,534)         (9,732)
                                                              ------------    ------------
     Net cash used by investing activities................          (5,486)         (9,720)
                                                              ------------    ------------

   Cash flows from financing activities:
     Payments of long-term debt...........................         (47,000)        (33,100)
     Proceeds from the issuance of treasury stock.........           2,748             150
                                                              ------------    ------------
     Net cash used by financing activities................         (44,252)        (32,950)
                                                              ------------    ------------

   Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents...          (6,568)          3,284
   Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period.......          14,606           7,409
                                                              ------------    ------------
   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period.............    $      8,038    $     10,693
                                                              ============    ============

   Supplemental Disclosure:
     Cash payments for income taxes, net..................    $        170    $      1,824
                                                              ============    ============

     Cash payments for interest...........................    $     13,184    $      3,696
                                                              ============    ============



   See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollars in thousands except per share data)
(Unaudited)

(1)     Inventories are summarized as follows:


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

          Finished products              $   132,887      $   125,491
          Work-in-process                     57,572           61,932
          Raw materials                      106,162          107,031
                                         -----------      -----------
                                         $   296,621      $   294,454
                                         ===========      ===========


(2)  Weighted  average  shares used in the  computation of basic and diluted net
     earnings per common share are as follows:

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

     Weighted average shares used for
       basic net earnings per common
       share                              50,021,578       49,373,755
     Effect of dilutive securities:
       Stock options                       1,061,294          977,421
                                          ----------       ----------
     Weighted average shares used for
       diluted net earnings per common
       share                              51,082,872       50,351,176
                                          ==========       ==========


Item 2.  Management's  Discussion  and  Analysis  of Results of  Operations  and
         Financial Condition

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Furniture Brands  International,  Inc.  (referred to herein as the "Company") is
one of the  largest  home  furniture  manufacturers  in the United  States.  The
Company has three primary operating subsidiaries: Broyhill Furniture Industries,
Inc.; Lane Furniture  Industries,  Inc.; and Thomasville  Furniture  Industries,
Inc.

Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2001 and 2000
--------------------------------------------------------

Selected  financial  information  for the three  months ended March 31, 2001 and
March 31, 2000 is presented below:

(Dollars in millions except per share data)

                                                 Three Months Ended
                                      ----------------------------------------
                                         March 31, 2001       March 31, 2000
                                      -------------------  -------------------
                                                  % of                 % of
                                      Dollars   Net Sales  Dollars   Net Sales
                                      -------   ---------  -------   ---------
Net sales                              $506.2     100.0%    $563.9     100.0%
Earnings from operations                 36.1       7.1       56.7      10.1
Interest expense                          6.8       1.3        9.6       1.7
Income tax expense                       10.4       2.1       17.2       3.1
Net earnings                             19.7       3.9%      30.6       5.4%
Net earnings per common share-diluted    0.39       -         0.61       -

Gross profit (1)                       $125.3      24.8%    $148.4      26.3%

(1)  The  Company  believes  that  gross  profit  provides  useful   information
     regarding  a  company's  financial  performance.   Gross  profit  has  been
     calculated  by   subtracting   cost  of  operations   and  the  portion  of
     depreciation associated with cost of goods sold from net sales.

                                        Three Months Ended
                                             March 31,
                                        -------------------
                                          2001       2000
                                        --------   --------
     Net sales                           $506.2     $563.9
     Cost of operations                   370.4      404.7
     Depreciation (associated with
       cost of goods sold)                 10.5       10.8
                                         ------     ------
     Gross profit                        $125.3     $148.4
                                         ======     ======

Net  sales for the three  months  ended  March  31,  2001 were  $506.2  million,
compared to $563.9  million in the three months ended March 31, 2000, a decrease
of $57.7 million or 10.2%.  This sales decline  reflects the continuation of the
significant  slowdown  which  began  during the second half of 2000.  Also,  the
Company is experiencing  some carry-over  effect from major retailer  bankruptcy
filings in the second half of 2000 and has sacrificed  additional  volume as the
Company has backed away from other business due to credit concerns.

Earnings from  operations for the three months ended March 31, 2001 decreased by
$20.6  million or 36.4% from the  comparable  prior year period.  Earnings  from
operations  for the three  months  ended  March 31, 2001 and March 31, 2000 were
7.1% and 10.1% of net sales,  respectively.  Earnings  from  operations  for the
three months ended March 31, 2001 were  negatively  impacted by decreased  plant
utilization - off by some 16-17% - resulting both from the volume  shortfall and
from increased focus on imported products.

Interest  expense totaled $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2001
compared to $9.6 million in the prior year  comparable  period.  The decrease in
interest  expense in the three  months ended March 31, 2001  resulted  both from
lower long-term debt levels and lower interest rates.


<PAGE>


The  effective  income tax rate was 34.7% and 36.0% for the three  months  ended
March 31, 2001 and March 31, 2000, respectively.  The effective tax rate for the
three  months  ended  March  31,  2001  was  less  adversely  impacted  than the
comparable  prior  year  period due in part to a lower  provision  for state and
local taxes.

Net  earnings  per  common  share for basic and  diluted  were  $0.39 and $0.39,
respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2001, compared with $0.62 and
$0.61,  respectively,  for the same period last year.  Average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding used in the calculation of net earnings per common
share on a basic and diluted basis were 50,022,000 and 51,083,000, respectively,
for the  three  months  ended  March 31,  2001 and  49,374,000  and  50,351,000,
respectively, for the three months ended March 31, 2000.

FINANCIAL CONDITION

Working Capital
---------------

Cash and cash  equivalents at March 31, 2001 amounted to $8.0 million,  compared
with $14.6 million at December 31, 2000. During the three months ended March 31,
2001, net cash provided by operating  activities totaled $43.2 million, net cash
used by investing activities totaled $5.5 million and net cash used by financing
activities totaled $44.3 million.

Working  capital was $536.4 at March 31, 2001,  compared with $548.5  million at
December 31, 2000. The current ratio was 4.6-to-1 at March 31, 2001, compared to
4.8-to-1 at December 31, 2000.

Financing Arrangements
----------------------

As of March 31, 2001, long-term debt consisted of the following, in millions:

           Revolving credit facility              $399.8
           Other                                    15.2
                                                  ------
                                                  $415.0
                                                  ======

To meet  short-term  capital  and  other  financial  requirements,  the  Company
maintains a $630.0 million  revolving  credit facility with a group of financial
institutions.  The revolving  credit facility allows for the issuance of letters
of credit and cash borrowings.  Letter of credit  outstandings are limited to no
more than $150.0 million,  with cash  borrowings  limited only by the facility's
maximum availability less letters of credit outstanding. On March 31, 2001 there
were $399.8  million in cash  borrowings  and $28.3 million in letters of credit
outstanding, leaving an excess of $201.9 million available under the facility.

Cash borrowings under the revolving credit facility bear interest at a base rate
or at an  adjusted  Eurodollar  rate plus an  applicable  margin  which  varies,
depending upon the type of loan the Company executes. The applicable margin over
the base rate and Eurodollar rate is subject to adjustment  based upon achieving
certain credit ratings. At March 31, 2001, loans outstanding under the revolving
credit  facility  consisted of $385.0  million based on the adjusted  Eurodollar
rate and $14.8 million based upon the base rate, for a weighted average interest
rate of 6.07%.

The Company  believes that its  revolving  credit  facility,  together with cash
generated from operations,  will be adequate to meet liquidity  requirements for
the foreseeable future.

Recently Issued Statements of Financial Accounting Standards
------------------------------------------------------------

In June 1998,  the  Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board issued  Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133 (SFAS No. 133) "Accounting for Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities." This statement  standardizes the accounting
for derivative  instruments  by requiring that an entity  recognize the items as
assets and  liabilities in the statement of financial  position and measure them
at fair value. SFAS No. 133, as amended, is effective for fiscal years beginning
after June 15, 2000. The Company adopted SFAS No. 133 effective January 1, 2001.
The adoption of this standard has not had a material impact on the  consolidated
financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

OUTLOOK
-------

Current order trends indicate a continuation  of weak consumer  spending in most
segments of the  Company's  business.  This economic  environment,  coupled with
recent retailer  failures and the Company's  ongoing strategy for realigning its
customer base to focus on  long-term,  profitable  sales  growth,  suggests that
second  quarter  sales  should  be down in the high  single  digits  from  those
reported  for the same period last year,  with a recovery  toward the end of the
second half of the year;  however,  the  recovery  will not be soon  enough,  or
strong enough,  to offset the first half weakness.  Assuming that level of sales
activity, second quarter earnings per share are anticipated to be $0.35 to $0.40
compared  to $0.60  last  year.  For the full year  ending  December  31,  2001,
earnings per share are projected to be $1.85 to $1.95 versus last year's $2.15.

Capital  expenditures  are  forecasted  at  $30  - $35  million  for  the  year.
Depreciation  and  amortization are anticipated to be $58 to $60 million for the
year. Selling,  general and administrative expenses for the year are expected to
be in the range of 16.25% to 16.50% of net sales.  Based upon  current  interest
rates, interest expense is expected to be approximately $25 million. The Company
should  generate  upwards  of $100  million  in cash  flow this  year,  which is
currently  expected  to be used  primarily  for  repayment  of  long-term  debt.
Earnings before interest expense, income taxes and depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA)  as a percent  of net sales is  expected  to be in the 11.00% to 11.75%
range for the full year.

The  percentage  of the  Company's  product  lines  represented  by imports will
continue to  increase.  Also,  the  Company  continues  to pursue its  dedicated
distribution  strategy.  The Thomasville  Home  Furnishings  Stores  development
program is on schedule to add  approximately  25 new stores per year with a goal
of 250 stores.  Finally,  The Home Depot is completing the rollout to all of its
stores of kitchen and bath cabinetry  marketed using the  "Thomasville"  name in
accordance with the previously reported licensing agreement.


FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
--------------------------

The Company herein has made 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 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 future public releases and SEC reports.


Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The  Company is exposed to market  risk from  changes  in  interest  rates.  The
Company's exposure to interest rate risk consists of its floating rate revolving
credit  facility.  In May 2001,  in order to reduce  the  impact of  changes  in
interest  rates on its floating rate long-term  debt,  the Company  entered into
three  interest  rate swap  agreements  each having a notional  amount of $100.0
million and a  termination  date in May 2004.  The swap  agreements  effectively
convert $300.0 million of the Company's  floating rate long-term debt to a fixed
rate.  The Company  pays the  counterparties  a blended  fixed rate of 4.93% per
annum and receives payment based upon the floating three-month LIBOR rate.


                            PART II OTHER INFORMATION
                            -------------------------



Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

     (b)  A Form 8-K was filed on January 25,  2001  announcing  fourth  quarter
          operating results and projections of first quarter and full year sales
          and  earnings.  A Form 8-K was filed on February  23, 2001  announcing
          projections of first quarter and full year sales and earnings.  A Form
          8-K was filed on April 27, 2001  announcing  first  quarter  operating
          results  and  projections  of second  quarter  and full year sales and
          earnings.

<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.
                                               (Registrant)



                                  By Steven W. Alstadt
                                     ---------------------------------
                                     Steven W. Alstadt
                                     Controller and
                                     Chief Accounting Officer




Date:  May 14, 2001