Exhibit 23






                          Independent Auditors' Consent



The Board of Directors
Furniture Brands International, Inc.:

We  consent  to  incorporation  by  reference  in  Registration  Statement  Nos.
33-65714,   333-6990,   333-39355,   333-80189,   333-100133  on  Form  S-8  and
Registration   Statement  No.   333-84992  on  Form  S-3  of  Furniture   Brands
International,  Inc.  of our report  dated  January  22,  2003,  relating to the
consolidated  balance  sheets  of  Furniture  Brands  International,   Inc.  and
subsidiaries  as of  December  31, 2002 and 2001,  and the related  consolidated
statements of operations,  shareholders'  equity, and cash flows and the related
schedule for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002,
which  report  appears in the  December  31, 2002 annual  report on Form 10-K of
Furniture Brands International, Inc.

Our report  refers to a change in accounting  for goodwill and other  intangible
assets.




KPMG LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
March 25, 2003