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                                                                       Exhibit 5

                       OPINION OF KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP


LADD Furniture, Inc.
4620 Grandover Parkway
Greensboro, North Carolina  27417-6777

         Re:  Management Deferred Compensation Plan -- Registration Statement 
              on Form S-8

Sir/Madam:

         At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form
S-8 (the "Registration Statement"), which LADD Furniture, Inc., a North Carolina
corporation (the "Company"), intends to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, of $7,500,000 in deferred compensation obligations (the
"Obligations") of the Company under the LADD Furniture, Inc. Management Deferred
Compensation Plan (the "Plan"). We are familiar with the proceedings undertaken
in connection with the authorization of the Plan and the Obligations.
Additionally, we have examined such questions of law and fact as we have
considered necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.

         In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, and the
conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as
copies.

         We are opining herein as to the effect on the subject transaction only
of the federal securities law of the United States and the laws of the State of
North Carolina, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability
thereto, or the effect thereon, of any other laws.

         Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Obligations have
been duly authorized, and upon the issuance of the Obligations under the terms
of the Plan, such Obligations will be legally valid and binding obligations of
the Company, except as may be limited by the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to or affecting the rights or remedies of creditors; the effect of
general principles of equity, whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law, and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought; and the effect of the laws of usury or other laws or
equitable principles relating to or limiting the interest rate payable on
indebtedness.

         We consent to your filing this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

                                                     KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP