PHOTOS: Vegas' Sexy New Hotel, the SLS

The dusty Sahara hotel-casino is no more and its youthful replacement, the SLS Las Vegas, is very close to cutting the ribbon.

The SLS opens August 23, but some pictures of the new property were released by owner SBE, which operates numerous restaurants and bars, including West Hollywood's legendary Abbey.

Philippe Starck worked on the design of the project, which was inspired by SLS hotels in Beverly Hills and Miami Beach. A French influence also runs through the 1,700+ guest rooms.

"It's strong and sparkling with millions of bubbles of life, stories, adventures and surprises," Starck said, according to ABC13. "It's fire and leaves you burnt of pleasure. It's soft and romantic and leaves you a taste of love and honey in the mouth. It's acid and you will lose your mind but so elegant that it shall change your life." See more images of the SLS below and here.