Lino has been used in bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and entranceways for 150 years (it is the THAT old...yep). The traditional checker board (black/white) is quiet "hot" in many areas of N. America...especially when a "retro" theme has been brought in (think 60's Diner). Lino is the old fashioned "vinyl" before plastics were invented. Then plastic was invented and people switched to "vinyl". Now people are moving away from plastics ('cause we've learned a thing or two about the environment) and are going back to the tried and tested Linoleum (Marmoleum = brand name for lino). Lots of fun in the black and white checkers! I think you'll like it.

Yes the windows are in place and I’m sorry I didn’t see this before we had to make some decisions

If you put in black glossy tiles you won't just have to wipe them down once a day - you will have to wipe them down multiple times a day! And I would never put glossy tiles in any colour in an entranceway as yes, they are VERY slippery when wet. We had glossy tiles in a bathroom and would never choose them for floor tiles again.

I wouldn't do skirtings . I'd do the floor tile for '1 tile' up the wall ( assume they are 200 x 200 or 300 x 300 -- cut them if 400 or 600 ) . Personally , I'd probably even do the 'silver' tiled areas in that 1 height darker tile too , as it would make the whole room look more 'level' , but thats up to you and your tiler .