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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IkDUGMD9M3bnhgkR9tl9EfU+c5f5zJj5eXOyi1y/nxtq+b8GkMpzwrHPNOHboYBc
 8JlcYmtgx2p49FEekS6RYw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000050957-03-000039.txt : 20030908
<SEC-HEADER>0000050957-03-000039.hdr.sgml : 20030908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030908174852
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000050957-03-000039
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030905
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030908

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000050957
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOUSEHOLD FURNITURE [2510]
		IRS NUMBER:				430337683
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 S HANLEY RD STE 1900
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3148631100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 SOUTH HANLEY RD
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTERNATIONAL SHOE CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690313

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DUGAN MICHAEL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218426

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00091
		FILM NUMBER:		03886720

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		101 S HANLEY RD STE 1900
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3148627131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		545 11TH AVE PLACE NW
		CITY:			HICKORY
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28601
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>dug8.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
	<periodOfReport>2003-09-05</periodOfReport>
	<notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000050957</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FURNITURE BRANDS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FBN</issuerTradingSymbol>
	</issuer>
	<reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218426</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DUGAN MICHAEL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>545 11TH AVENUE PLACE NW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HICKORY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28601</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
			<isDirector>0</isDirector>
			<isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
			<isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
			<isOther>0</isOther>
			<officerTitle>Chief Executive Operating Co.</officerTitle>
		</reportingOwnerRelationship>
	</reportingOwner>
	<nonDerivativeTable>
		<nonDerivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Restricted Common Stock</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>3000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</nonDerivativeHolding>
	</nonDerivativeTable>
	<derivativeTable>
		<derivativeTransaction>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>28.73</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<transactionDate>
				<value>2003-09-05</value>
			</transactionDate>
			<deemedExecutionDate>
			</deemedExecutionDate>
			<transactionCoding>
				<transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
				<transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
				<equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
			</transactionCoding>
			<transactionAmounts>
				<transactionShares>
					<value>10000</value>
				</transactionShares>
				<transactionPricePerShare>
					<value>0</value>
				</transactionPricePerShare>
				<transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
					<value>A</value>
				</transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
			</transactionAmounts>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2004-09-05</value>
				<footnoteId id="F1"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-09-05</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>10000.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>10000.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeTransaction>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Performance Based Stock Option</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>21.46</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2004-01-23</value>
				<footnoteId id="F2"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-01-23</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>3600.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>3600.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>34.40</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2003-01-24</value>
				<footnoteId id="F3"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2012-01-24</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>2500.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>2500.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
		<derivativeHolding>
			<securityTitle>
				<value>Stock Option</value>
			</securityTitle>
			<conversionOrExercisePrice>
				<value>21.46</value>
			</conversionOrExercisePrice>
			<exerciseDate>
				<value>2004-01-23</value>
				<footnoteId id="F4"/>
			</exerciseDate>
			<expirationDate>
				<value>2013-01-23</value>
			</expirationDate>
			<underlyingSecurity>
				<underlyingSecurityTitle>
					<value>Common Stock</value>
				</underlyingSecurityTitle>
				<underlyingSecurityShares>
					<value>3600.00</value>
				</underlyingSecurityShares>
			</underlyingSecurity>
			<postTransactionAmounts>
				<sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
					<value>3600.00</value>
				</sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
			</postTransactionAmounts>
			<ownershipNature>
				<directOrIndirectOwnership>
					<value>D</value>
				</directOrIndirectOwnership>
				<natureOfOwnership>
					<value/>
				</natureOfOwnership>
			</ownershipNature>
		</derivativeHolding>
	</derivativeTable>
	<footnotes>
		<footnote id="F1">Options exercisable in annual installments on September 5, 2004 (25%), September 5, 2005 (25%) and September 5, 2006 (50%)</footnote>
		<footnote id="F2">Options may expire in 2006 depending upon realization of performance target.</footnote>
		<footnote id="F3">Options exercisable in installments beginning on 1/24/03</footnote>
		<footnote id="F4">Options exercisable in installments beginning on 1/23/04</footnote>
	</footnotes>
	<remarks>
	</remarks>
	<ownerSignature>
		<signatureName>/s/ Dugan, Michael K</signatureName>
		<signatureDate>2003-09-08</signatureDate>
	</ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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